Kicking *kitten* In Our Twenties - April Challenge!! Take 2!!

Happy Thursday Ladies!

meag - I'm glad you had a good trip. I really like California but haven't been to the San Diego area yet. I think reevaluating goals in the middle of the month is a good idea if things change, like vacation. I love going on vacation but catch up back home and back at work has to be one of my least favorite things. The week after vacation always tends to me the most stressful.

fitontherun - That same storm came north of my town right by I-40. Luckily my office is downtown and I just had to worry about hail damage. I got stuck in Walmart last year during a storm and they had everyone gather in the back of the store, I didn't feel any safer. I'm glad no one was hurt.

Guam - I gained last Monday but I checked my today just to see and I am less than 1/2 pound away from 30 lost! I just don't need to self sabitoge like I did last week. I offically weigh in every Monday and won't record a weight until then. Thanks for asking. I wish my gym would have more classes like Hot Hula and Turbo Kick they sound like a lot of fun. I use my old university's gym cause I get the alumni price but some of the classes are through the day while I'm at work. I have planned my calories ahead and then not been able to workout so that I was over on my calories and I was so disappointed but if I didn't plan ahead I would either not eat enough or end up eating really late. Now I have one steady calories goal, regardless of exercise and have lost more than I was the other way.

qwerty - I agree about needing a break to exercise in the middle of the day. I find my evenings go my so quickly with working out and trying to get everything else done in time.

el - your running as always a inspiration for me to work harder. I'm glad you massage went well. I have been thinking about going back but am nervous cause my muscles are sore that they will strip a muscle or something. Hopefully, if I tell them I have been working out they will be more cautious.

AFM - I have decided to take a break from running for a while. We (the hubs, my brother in-law and his wife & I) started P90x this week. I am really glad that we are doing this together cause they will let you know if you are using bad form and encourage you to push yourself. I am glad that I started running first so that I have the endurance to get through the workout but am realizing that I have endurance and not strength. So hoping to build muscles so that it helps to burn more fat! I still have 43 pounds to lose.

Hawaii in 121 days!

Hello ladies!!!
I just finished my first race of the season- a 10k- and beat my time from last year! Yeah!!!! Love that feeling when you finish a race and find out your time was better than you expected! Even better was I ran with my sister part of the way (and she is very athletic-plays competitive baseball etc) and when I passed her she was like "wow I could NOT keep up with your pace."

So I guess one way I plan on getting myself to stick to my goals for the month is to remember how good today felt! The other key for me is always Planning, Planning, Planning. Planning meals and when I'm going to run/strength train. And to not be unrealistic and think I'm going to actually feel like fdoing a 12k run after a 10 hour work day, but instead do that run on a day off etc.

Megalayne- I'm so glad you are feeling good! Did you get fancy work shoes or more basic? Next to exercise I must admit shopping is also a great mood booster!

Kendib- I've heard LOTS of great things about P90X, and the results people get. Are you taking before and after pictures?

Guamgrly- That's so cute that your son is such a big baseball fan! Does he play baseball as well? What is a "Hot Hula" class? Do you use hula hoops? It sounds really fun!

Here's to the start of a great week!

Ok....I have been totally MIA for most of this month, but I am back now and I will try to catch up!!

Kendi - Congrats on your 5K!!! I love the pic and you did awesome!! I know you didnt get your goal, but you were sooo close!! Next time will be a lot easier!! Be proud!! And Hawaii?? Thats awesome, I have never been, but I hear its amazing!! And what great motivation for you.....vacations always help to keep me on track. My sister went their on her honeymoon and said there is some killer hiking if you want to get some exercise in! And I did P90X recently too.....its hard but I loved it!! Great workouts!!

Deeders - I love the quote "strong is the new skinny" I will keep that in mind!!! And I agree that fried foods are hard to avoid....I can easily skip the common ones like fried chicken and fish, but I am a sucker for sweet potato fries!! They are soo hard to resist!!

Bethany - Congrats on skipping the rice crispie treats!! I struggle with the food that gets brought into work too!! And passing up shopping for a workout??? You rock!!! Glad you had a good sweat!! Much better for the body and the wallet! And as for your question.....I am almost never hungry after a long workout, my hunger tends to hit full-force the day after a hard workout. Sounds like you have been doing awesome with getting your workouts in!! I am soo proud of you!!

Eleanor - Thanks for the recipe blog! I am always in need of new healthy recipes....I have so few in my arsenal and they get old after a while! I bookmarked you blog and will go through it all this weekend!! And a 20 mile run?? Congrats on that!!! You amaze me with all of your long runs!!

Abellone - First of all, Happy Birthday (I know its past now, but better late then never?)!! And I know how you feel with the home being a battle field...mine feels that way too!! Sounds like you managed well through the easter holiday and your birthday treats!! Good luck finishing that paper!!

Meag - Glad your enjoying your San Diego trip, even if it is a little awkward with Ty right now. Sorry that you guys are heading more down the friendship route, although its good that even if you arent together you can still remain friends....so many relationships end so badly that you can't even be friends with each other. I hope you figure things out once and for all either way!! And try to enjoy your trip and those local beers!!

Qwerty - Congrats on the mileage so far!! I think you'll make it if you put your mind to it!! I have totally fallen off track with mine, but oh well, I will be at it again next month! And I wish there was a work-out break during work too!! I work a 12-hour shift and I would love a break to workout and de-stress myself!! Congrats on the first race of the season and on the PR!!! Thats soo awesome!!

fitontherun - Happy (early) Birthday!!! And good luck on your race...I know you will rock it!!!



AFM - sorry I have been soo MIA this month. I have totally fallen off track....been in a funk and my diet and exercise have suffered greatly. I gained 3lbs in the past few weeks, and skipped a few days of logging. But I think it has pasted now and I am trying my hardest to get back on track. I worked 6 - 12hour shifts in a row this past week and it was horrible and exhausting. Left no time for myself or working out. I have only run about 3 times in the past 2 weeks and I have a race this coming Saturday, so thats no good. Its a 10K trail race...I am still doing it though!! Hubby and me are trying to plan a hiking trip out to the slot canyons in Utah for late summer. ( If you've never seen it try and google some pics, its amazing there!!!) I can't wait, I need another get-a-way!!

So I ran again today but tried to stay in the grass instead of on sidewalks, and it was much better! I gave myself shin splints before It sucked pretty bad, but I learned my lesson!!!

We should do a challenge or something... My personal one is to drink a 12 oz glass of water before meals, especially lunch and dinner to help fill me up! I've been eating the right things, but too many of them Does anyone have any other ideas that might help me?

Meag- I totally meant to write May for the challenge! hehe whoops. I am trying to think of goals right now. I will come back closer to may to really peg them down. I hope everyone is doing good today!

Meag- Right now I am actually taking a break from hardcore training. I have a few 12k's and 5k's scheduled but I am just focusing on getting toned and fit for my wedding. Oh the balance of a healthy lifestyle and a social life! I think everyone struggles with this. I have definitely gotten better about beating myself up over going off plan with help from therapy and support. But it is still something I constantly struggle with. I am going on a cruise tomorrow for my bachlor/bachlorette party! my only plan is to make good decisions when I can but really enjoy this vacation, burgers and margaritas and all! I also plan to hit the ground running when I get back, thus why I am excited about setting up some may goals. With the wedding fast approaching, stress has been at an all time high but I do my best and just workout as much as I can and eat as best I can, its all you can do! With only 4 months until the wedding I am ready to fight hard to look fit and toned(not that I don't right now but even more so!) I hope all is well with you, I know you have some of your own beatings that you give yourself, and learning to be nicer to yourself is a hard skill to get.

Hey all,
Hope everyone had a great week! I am jealous-it seems like everyone has been on mini-vacations month except for me!!

Abby459- I've fallen off my mileage as well..but I figure its better to run when you have the time/energy and make those runs count, then to drag yourself and risk starting to dislike something which I normally look forward to doing! That great that you are doing a 10k trail run- I'm sure you will do amazing, it seems like you have done alot of trail running preparation, so you should be able to pull it off no problem!

JMSKCW- Congrats on your one year anniversary! Hope you and your husband enjoy your night with some wine, food, and no guilt!!

Megalyne- It looks like you have done an awesome job of achieving your goals for April. No human is capable of having all the balls (work, family, friends, health, relationships, eating right, exercising) up in the air at the same time. And if anyone did-I'm sure that person would find something else that wasn't perfect that they could improve on! Your PR for your 5k was a great accomplishment!

Eleanoreb- Running in the rain is such an accomplishment! I feel like all the muscles in my calves tense up with every step as I try not to slip! Don' t feel too bad about the cellphone, I've heard lots of interesting ways cellphones can break! Infact the last cellphone I had actually fell behind my bed and onto my base heater, and melted. That was difficult to explain to the people at Bell....

I'm going to try to keep up with running/strength training the next couple of days- but I am moving this Saturday so will not get my mileage finished. (I'm counting lifting boxes and moving as my exercise for the weekend!!!) This will be my first time moving out of my parents house- so I can definitely see some of my May goals being influenced by that....and by swimsuit season of course!!!

Fitontherun- goodluck for your half tomorrow!!! you will do great I saw your times on your profile and they are almost the same as mine ( although a few seconds faster!!) With a 15k behind you, the half will be good.

Meag-is your race tomorrow as well?

Qwerty- hope the move goes well!! That's exciting to be moving out on your own. will you have roommates? should be fun!

AFM-I went out last night and stayed out way too late and drank a fair bit, danced a ton. It was a lot of fun and I felt like actually had a bit of a life. i am so used to never going out anymore.. especially satudays I wont stay out late because of long run Sunday. This morning I was bit dead but still got my run in

Yay! I did it! I am officially a half marathoner. I completed the race in 2:18:58 :bigsmile: . I was a bit bummed that I missed my goal of 2:15. But you know what? I'm proud of myself given the circumstances. My right knee and hip started aching at mile 5, but somehow I was able to distract myself and power through it. Not to mention, it started downpouring around mile 8. That's the thing about Oklahoma; our weather is so unpredictable. There was only a 30% chance of rain today. :grumble:

Meagalayne-Thank you for the bday wishes! My birthday went well! It was really boring. I spent it working on papers for school. But I celebrated on Friday night with a bunch of friends. And I hydrated pretty well and carboloaded this week. I am so tired of eating bagels for breakfast. :laugh: I know this is probably late but good luck on your race. I bet you set a new PR! And don't beat yourself up about how you've been eating. Sometimes, life just happens, and we can't help what we do.

Eleanoreb-Thank you! I survived my first half marathon. Running season ends in May, and doesn't start again until about September. I've been eyeing another half marathon that in November. That gives me knees/hip plenty time of heal up. And I'm already looking forwarding to setting a new PR. I bet you are much faster than me now. Those times in 2011 were definitely before my injury. Are you doing any races in the near future?

AFM-So now, I'm gonna rest, prop up my leg, ice it, and roll it out with my handy dandy foam roller. But, the whole IT band issue is frustrating. I love running. I'm not an atheletic person. In fact, I only played the violin and piano in high school. I only picked up running two years ago in college. It just really upsets me that I had to take two months off after November because of IT band syndrome in my left knee/hip. It seems like the same thing is happening again in my right leg. Though, this time, I think I caught it early. Perhaps I have an imbalance issue in my hip or weak quads. I'm just gonna take it easy this week, and possibly show up for senior's day at Zumba on Tuesday and go to Spin class on Friday. And I'm definitely scheduling a post half-marathon massage.:blushing: Sorry for the selfish and possibly depressing post. I guess I'm just an introspective person.

Last day of the month and I pop in so sorry I was not supportive this month but to be honest school, work and other things have taken up my whole time that dedicating this much time to the threads was nearly impossible, my last day of school is May 24th and I think Im deciding on NOT attending summer school. I did stay on top of my goals mainly all of them but I plan on coming back on here for the month of May stronger, can't promise I will be as dedicated as I was in the previous months but I will try and post on a coupe times per week and for sure June will be much better! Hope no ones is disappointed in me for not being a supportive MPF'er!! :grumble:

Thanks for keeping this going Meag you've done awesome and congrats on your race!

Abby same to you congrats on completing that difficult trail run! Keep pushing ladies! I will think of some May goals! Cynthia!