Beat Those Legs into Submission!

Hey y'all. Notice anything different? Yeah, me neither.


First off, I just want to say I am positively green with envy for those who got to participate in the Disney Princess weekend, whether you ran the 5K, or the half-marathon. No seriously. I'm so jealous I could scream.


Ahem. On to other things. I kicked my trash tonight. Seriously, I don't know if I'll be able to walk tomorrow. I took my goals for March pretty seriously tonight at the gym. First off I decided that since my legs want to keep crapping out on me, I just need to make them stronger. So I worked legs tonight. This was my routine.


Weights:
+25 lunges each leg
+Seated leg curl - 75 lbs 10 reps x 3
+Seated calf press - 180 lbs 10 reps x 3
+Leg extension - 55 lbs 10 reps x 3
+Hip adduction - 70 lbs 10 reps x 3 (I hate this machine, because it makes me really uncomfortable to do the exercise in a crowded gym. It looks inappropriate...)
+Hip abduction - 85 lbs 10 reps x 3
+Seated leg press - 90 lbs 10 reps x 3
+25 squats


Abs:
+2:00 front plank
+1:30 each side plank


45 minutes on the elliptical


Whew. It was intense. Haha. As far as my food goes, I took pictures, but they're really ugly, and I'm being super lazy and don't want to upload them, so I'll just tell you.


+Peanut butter
+Toasted pumpernickle bread with peanut butter and banana
+Green beans
+Baked Salmon
+Baby carrots
+Cucumbers
+Package of peanut M&Ms (my movie snack)
+2 Diet Sprites


I still have the last meal (breakfast since I'm back on nights) to go, so that's not it. I think I did pretty good except for the M&Ms, but I needed a snack for the movie, and pickings are slim around here... Haha.


I wore the Nike Tempo shorts again, and I love them on the elliptical. I think for running though, I will stick with tights and capris. It must be the way I run, since those shorts just won't stop riding up my inner thighs. They are super comfy, though! You should have seen how sweaty I was when I finished my workout. It felt great. I'm in such a good mood now. :) 


BTW, completely random and off topic, but anyone else notice how in my castle picture up top, there is nobody else around? Ummm, that is so weird and almost impossible at the castle at DisneyWorld.... Hmmmmm. Not complaining, though. I think it makes the photo better. :) 


Have a great day, y'all!

Three Tangent Tuesday

Workout: light weights workout (back) / 25 lunges / 1:30 front plank / 1:00 side planks / 25 squats / 30 minutes elliptical


So my cousin has come up with this new idea for 2012. Apparently it takes 28 days to make (or break!) a habit, so she wants to break (or make!) a new habit each month, and asked for participants. I said, sure why not. I mean, I've kind of made a new habit out of challenging myself... Lol. So my February "habit" is to add 25 squats to the daily routine. Why do I hate my poor legs so much??? Haha.


Sooo. Janae at HungryRunnerGirl has started this new trend called Three Tangent Tuesdays. Basically I just tell you guys three random things about myself. Please don't stop reading because you find out I'm like the weirdest person ever.... Because I probably am.


Three Tangent Tuesday  (RTtA style)


+ I have never, ever seen The Christmas Story. According to all of my friends, this means I'm not an American. I started watching it Christmas '09 when everyone at my house ganged up on me and sat me down in front of the tv, but I thought it was boring, and stopped paying attention... I guess if you didn't grow up watching it, and there's no nostalgic meaning... it's not world-altering. My family always watched White Christmas. Now there's a classic... :) 


+ I never remember birthdays. Seriously. Thank the heavens for Facebook.... it keeps me out of many a jam with my friends. It's not that I don't care, I do. I am one of those people that thinks birthdays are super duper special, and love to celebrate them. I'm just awful with dates.... I mean, awful! I feel super guilty about it, too. 


+ My best friend Ellie and I are going to open a cupcake/cake bakery. This idea started as a joke one night, and got serious pretty quickly. I don't think anybody actually thinks we're going to go through with it, but we are. I'm super excited about it.


Well, that's my three things for this week. That was kind of fun. :) Have a great day y'all, and wish me luck on my speed run tomorrow!! 


Here are some random pics...

They had GREEN lettuce today, so I totally went salad crazy. :) Plus the red pears are delicious!

I PROMISE once I get back to the states, my pictures will have more variety... Lol.

-Katy

Sleepy Girl

Workout: Ketllebell workout / New awesome ab workout / 1 mile in 9:13 (6.5 mph) / 30 minutes elliptical / 25 lunges

Totally awkward picture of me running that makes me look like I'm standing still....

I was beat today after my workout. It was an awesome workout, though. My kettlebell workout is like another cardio workout. My heart was pumping. 

By the way, if you have like a minute and want a quick way to get your heart rate up, do 25 lunges each leg. Seriously. It will also get you warm, and I know that most of America is experiencing really cold weather. (We are too. It was like in the 70's, and I had to wear a sweatshirt after nightfall. Brrrrr. Haha.)

And that ab workout? Kicked my trash all the way back to America. (I wish...) Holy cow, that was HARD. Ok, so maybe I just neglect my abs like 98% of the time, and that's why every muscle group on my body is getting beat into submission and I STILL have love handles.... But seriously.  It was tough for me. And my best friend said it was tough for her too. Though she used words like napalm, she's very descriptive. So if you're an abdominal PANSY like myself, try this out and feel the burn. 

Yeah. I took a picture of my sweaty iPod. I'm not weird or anything...

Then I ran my mile, which was heaven, and then hopped on the elliptical. I really got into my episode of Glee! and didn't want to stop, but I was so tired I was afraid of falling asleep on the darn thing, so I called it a day and went home.

What is goin' on with my elbow?!

And promptly slept for like 12 hours. When I had missed two meals, and my stomach was about to pronounce mutiny on the rest of my body, I finally gave in and went and brushed my teeth and made my way to the galley. I kinda doubled up my meal and ate breakfast and lunch together. 

Yummy.

I had:

+Apples and Cinnamon oatmeal with ground flaxseed. I don't put any Splenda because there is already enough sugar in the flavored packets. 

+Roast beef, pepperoni, and American cheese sandwich. They only have the sandwich bar open right now, so my choices were EXTREMELY limited. My bad for sleeping through the regular meal hours.

+Baby carrots.

+Diet Coke

+Peppermint herbal tea with 2 Splendas.

Looks like I'm on my own devices until breakfast. (Or dinner for me.) I have a few Special K bars, so I"ll be good. Tonight is going to be a night of laundry, internet, Scrubs (I just discovered this precious gem of show. Yeah, I know. I just crawled out from under the rock I've been living in.), and putting my movies on my hard drive. 

At some point I'll make my way to the gym. :) I hope everyone has a great day, and a wonderful weekend!!

Oh, and to clarify, I haven't signed up for the race yet, registration doesn't open until March 15. But I will sign up then. I have committed to this. I'm soooooo excited!!

Still Hurtin'

Workout: 30 minutes weights (various body parts) / 25 lunges / planks / 30 minutes elliptical


Found out today I am not. pain. free.

Major disappointment. But instead of getting super down about it, I'm going to try to stay positive. Running may not be in my immediate future, but at least I can still do what I've been doing with weights and the elliptical. It does make me sad, though. :(

I was going to try to upload a video my best friend made of her doing her lunges. It's hilarious. But it won't let me download it. I'll keep working the issue. :)

Anyways, I hope everyone had a great 3 day weekend!

So, so, so, Tired.

Holy cow.

Power outage messing up sleep. (No power = no air conditioning. This is Africa. You do the Math.)

Twelve hour shift. (On which I did my planks - 1:30 front, 1:00 side; and my lunges - 25 each leg)

Forty-five minute meeting.

Then this:

30 minute weight workout (arms)
1 mile run! in 9:13
30 minutes elliptical

Now I look like this:

See those bags?!

And want to crawl into this:

If I weren't pretty much a zombie right now, I'd tell you guys all about how much my run rocked my socks (disappointingly just boring white socks) off, and how I wanted to go much further than just a measly mile, but stopped myself so I don't re-injure myself.

Kinda like I just did there. :)

I'm off to be in a coma for at least the next 10 hours. I'll be back to stalk your blogs then. :) 

I also have a special video to show you guys. It's awesome. 

Transvestites and Treadmills

Workout: 20 minutes weights (back and tricep) / 41 minutes elliptical / 19 minutes TM 3.0 mph 11% incline

Wooooooh, Buddy. My legs are sore. Between the squats yesterday, and the cardio today, they are screaming at me. I love it. :)

I was only going to my usual 30 minutes of elliptical, but then I came upon the Rocky Horror Glee Show. Seriously, it just made my week. I had to keep going. Brilliant. I love the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and almost started doing the Time Warp right there on the treadmill. 

If it weren't like 100% probability that my klutzy behind would fall off and break something I'm sure is neccessary to function.... let's just say, I would have been jumping to the left.... And a step to the RIII-IIII-III-GHT. 

I took pictures, and was fully prepared to post them.... except I'm a total tard and left my memory card in my computer. So they are stuck on the hard drive of my camera. Forever. Sorry....

I hope everyone has a great night! 

Awesome Socks.

Workout: Kettlebell workout(see below) / 30 minutes elliptical


First off, don't you love my workout socks? One of my best girlfriends sent them to me. :)

I wanted to get some pictures of me actually doing the exercises, but I wimped out, because of course my gym was super busy this morning.

Geeze. Don't people WORK anymore?

So I managed to get these totally posed shots....

Only on a fitness blog cold this picture be appropriate. And even then.... Lol

Yeah. cute, I know. But sheesh. I did just get off a 12 hour shift! :)

So, now that I have once again graced the internet with SUPER UNATTRACTIVE photos of myself... I'll get to the workout.

First off, the workout I posted yesterday I altered a whole bunch. The only one I did the same were the Turkish Roll-ups. 

I didn't feel my leg was quite ready for jumping squats yet, so I did normal squats, and followed each squat by swinging the KB over my head. 

The last exercise was too confusing, and when I tried it the way it was explained, I felt silly and it didn't feel like it was doing anything. So I just did a combination of a bicep curl then lifted my arm straight up. I did this on each side.

I also went up from 10 lb to 15lb, since I have been using 15 lb dumbbells, anyways. I think I may go up to 20 lb or 25 lb for the exercises you use both arms with. 

I did:

4 x 10 Turkish Roll=Ups

3 x 10 Squats with Overhead Swings

3 x 10 Curl Up / Arm Raises.

All in all, I felt it, and I think it was a good workout. I'll keep it in my arsenal. :) 

I'm also going to start a new "Favorite Workouts" page, and update it as I discover new fun workouts. I also found an elliptical interval workout, but you have to watch the time a whole bunch... so that will start when I'm finished with Glee! hehe. :) Everyone have a WONDERFUL day. 

Put Some Dang Clothes On!

Workout: 30 minutes elliptical / 50 crunches


I know y'all are probably sick of hearing me talk about Glee! but it's so dang addicting. I seriously didn't want to stop the elliptical at 30 minutes today. In fact looking back... I don't know why I did. Hehe. I probably won't next time. I was having a lazy day, and wasn't even going to go to the gym..... then I realized if I didn't go, I couldn't see the final Britney number.

No gym = No Glee! It's a rule.


I'm so glad I went. They performed one of my all-time favorite songs "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel the Glee! cast. Which means I was making a total fool of myself on the elliptical again.


Sigh. 


Then it was time to sit around on the internet in my smelly, sweaty gym clothes take a shower. Eventually. I mean. No rush. You know what taking a shower in a public locker room is? Take that, with 1/10 the space, and you've got where I have to take every single shower for 7 months. So forgive me for not really being in a rush.

Like today, I walked into the bathroom, and there in full naked glory is a girl in NO RUSH WHATSOEVER to get dressed. I mean, I'm not a prude, but when I have like 4 inches of space to squeeze by you and all your girly parts, I'd much rather you be clothed in a towel, than your birthday suit. 


It's not your party. And you can't parade around naked if ya want to.


Do you get annoyed by people hanging out naked in public locker rooms?


I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not hiding behind closed doors just take off my sports bra, but I try to limit the nudity to as brief a time as possible. I know we're all girls (or guys depending), but modesty goes a long way in my book. 


Do you have a show that your are OBSESSED with, and thus limit yourself to only being able to watch it at the gym?


I have many shows I'm obsessed with. Glee! is the first one I've put such restrictions on, but I think I might continue to use this method. Tis very effective.

Is There a CA (Candy Anonymous)?

Workout: 30 minutes weights (arms-oh so sore!) / 30 minutes elliptical / 50 crunches

So I tried something new today. I worked last night, and everyone on my shift decided to go to the gym after work. Three people committing to the gym prior to a 12 hour mind-numbing shift?

HECK YEAH.


But when breakfast dinner time rolled around, I just so happened to be on the phone. And then work came calling, and I couldn't really get a break to go eat. GASP! You are seriously asking me work out, after 12 hours of work, on an empty stomach?

PSHHH. Yeah. Ok.


So I gulped down a GU energy gel. I have been reading about these from various bloggers as fuel for a long run, taken during the run. Not as a meal replacement. But. You work with you've got, right? And we had those in the shop. Among a truckload of candy.

Seriously. A truckload. If I could take pictures at work, (I can't because it's wayyyyy to embarrassing very illegal.) you would feel super bad for me. I mean, a sugar addict like me stuck in a room with candy ALL day and night? Might as well lock up and addict with a heroin needle. You'd get the same results..... Though I may have less willpower.


So, I figured, even though it's not a proper meal replacement, it will work in a pinch. And boy did it. That or I am just energetic superwoman. It was great. Well, not what I'd deem "yummy delicious" (which is the highest praise I can award. It never happens with galley food.) But no bad aftertaste which rocks my socks. Suh-weet.

I also went up a resistance level on the elliptical. I had been stuck for too long at the one I was at. I'm going to be doing that periodically, until I eventually max out. That's the goal at least... I also am looking for an elliptical interval workout. You know. For when I get brave enough to actually try it. So if you find one. Please point me in the right direction. And I'll think about getting out my big girl pants and giving it a shot. 


But before everyone stones me for not properly fueling before a workout, know this! I ate serious amounts of oatmeal last night. Like, I think I am single handedly supporting the oats industry. Well. That and Hershey. :)

Glee-ful Workout

I totally went to the gym this morning. Because of all of your comments! I knew I couldn't back down.

THANKS!

I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and watched the first episode in Season 2 of Glee. Holy WOW. The minutes flew by like WHOA. I now have my new cardio show. It was amazing. I needed the show to get me through, since I was soooooo tired. That show rocks my socks.

MY NEWS. About that.

I was ging to tell everyone that I could start my my 2 week PAIN-FREE countdown to when I would start running again. (That was my deal with myself. Two whole weeks pain free, and I can run. Not until then.) BUT. My leg tonight is still feeling some pain. So the countdown hasn't started yet.

There is still good news. My leg IS healing. I can feel it. And I think I will be starting my countdown pretty soon. :) So I'm still positive!

Sandy Claws!

Workout: 30 minutes weights (chest) / 30 minutes elliptical / 50 crunches


My poor arms. They feel like jelly. And I love it. :) I don't know what it was, but tonight's workout was just amazing. I loved it. Sometimes I have to force myself to finish a workout, but tonight was not one of those nights. :) Yay.


I was watching The Nightmare Before Christmas while I was on the elliptical. Let's just say I know all the songs, and I seriously get into them. Facial expressions, hand/arm movements, etc. I probably looked like a lunatic. And I loved every second. Plus, there were only like 5 people in the gym at 2:30 in the morning. Haha. 


I'm in such a great mood! Now, off to do laundry!

Back in The Gym!

Workout: 30 minutes weights (arms) / 30 minutes elliptical / 50 crunches


Heck yeah back in the gym! It felt so nice to go back after my break! By break I mean stuck at work sitting on my behind going absolutely crazy! :) It was a pretty great workout though. Went at just the right time, it wasn't crowded, there was football on the screen, and I just thoroughly enjoyed myself. 


I love this feeling. This is why I keep going. I like the results I see, but the best part is definitely how you feel afterwards. It's amazing. :)

Merry Christmas!!

Workout: 30 minutes weights (arms) / 30 minutes elliptical


So, I took a much needed two day break from exercising, partly for my injury, and partly to lock myself and like 20 lbs of chocolate in my room so I could watch Dexter and mope about the holidays. I needed my little pity party. BUT. Then, I woke up this morning - I mean, come on, it's CHRISTMAS! - in a much better spirit, opened my presents, and got my booty back in the gym. I may have a slight injury, and I may be away from the love of my life and my family for the holidays, but it's ALMOST OVER. I WILL get better, and I WILL get home. So, I figured I'd share what my Christmas looked like this year. 


First off, I may be away from my family and friends physically, but bless their hearts, they have done everything they can to make sure I knew I was in their hearts and thoughts. They have sent me countless cards, letters, gifts, emails, Facebook posts, and Lord knows Shane calls me whenever he can. (I love those days) So my close group of fans friends/family seriously rock. I'd be lost without them.


Here's what I did yesterday:


We'll start with how I spent Christmas Eve. Gross, unshowered, crocheting  in my room watching Dexter. Very festive, I know. :)

One of my girlfriends, Shannon sent me this yarn in my Christmas package. Now. I have very strict rules about Christmas presents. They are NOT to be opened until Christmas. I'm very serious about this, and even told on Shane to my mother, since he opened her gifts early. (He then asked me where my loyalties lie. I told him he'll think twice next time. Nothing like a MIL to inspire fear... Hehe) BUT. This yarn was not wrapped, therefor does not fall into the Christmas present category. It's a very precise science.


Since I do not open my presents early, I had acquired quite a few, seen here.

I had a whole bunch of fun opening these this morning! The love of my life even sent me workout clothes. Sigh. Is it totally weird that I'm a girl who gets more excited over capri running tights and tech t-shirts than regular clothes? Probably, but it's the truth none-the-less. I even took a picture of me in some of my new gear before I headed out to the gym!

I had an awesome workout. It felt really good to be back in the gym again, plus it was like practically empty, so it was AWESOME! Some random guy came up to me and gave me a lifting tip, which immediately puts me on the defensive. I mean, the guy/girl ratio here is pretty much like 800:1, so getting hit on happens fairly easily. And since my ring won't fit under my lifting gloves, I didn't even have my huge, glaring diamond to ward him off. (I keep it on my persons, though. That thing doesn't ever get away from me!) But, even that turned out nice, since he was really just helping, and didn't try to start an awkward convo, he just merrily went back to what he was doing. :) See. Awesome Christmas.


Then I came home and showered for like the first time in a month two days - gross, I know. But I was too busy being mopey in my room for my smell to offend too many people - and got all gussied up in Christmas gear. And by that I mean I put on the ONLY green (or red) shirt I have out here - which just so happens to be an UA tech tshirt - and put my hair down for the first time since I've been out here. Whoa. I know. FANCY.


Here's the blurry result.

Anyways. I got online to find out one of my best girlfriends got engaged last night! Kudos for her!!! (I knew in advance he was gonna ask, it was one TOUGH secret to keep!!) And now I just have to wait until tonight. It's Bingo night. My favorite time of the month here in Djibouti! Seriously. It's free to play, and they have bomb prizes. Like XBOX 360's and stuff. And boy oh boy. Do I heart me some XBOX. 


Merry Christmas everyone. I hope your holidays are filled with joy and family. 

Today' Sad Revelation

Workout: 45 minutes weights (chest) / 1 mi run on TM (9:15)

So I had an awesome chest weights workout today, and was looking forward to my runon the TM, did my stretches, put that mother on 6.5 mph, and took my first step.

And promptly thought my hip was going to SNAP. It was excruciating. I hobbled through a few more steps, and finally got into some sort of stride, and pushed myself through a mile of hell. Seriously, it hurt so badly. I had to stop, hobble over to the stretching mat, and then hobble the 1/2 mile back to my room. I felt like SUCH A FAILURE.

I have had some sort of hip/thigh (it moves) for weeks. I can barely walk without limping, especially with my 300lb 8 lb boots on. I ignore it for the most part, or just try and convince myself it's regular soreness prior to a workout, and I can't let it stop me from working out. After all, I'm 24 years old, and I shouldn't be falling apart from running a measly THREE MILES every so often. Add that to the standard military viewpoint of, if you're hurt and put on limited duty, you are probably just a pansy trying to get out of pt. Needless to say, it was easy to ignore my very real pain.

Not so much anymore. As I was hobbling back to my room to shower and go back to work all I could think was:

I'll never be a runner.
I'll never run a marathon.
I have to give up exercise and my blog.
I'm going to gain a whole bunch of weight.

By the time I got back to my room I was in full breakdown mode. Tears and all. Because before I started exercising seriously, I was just barely getting by out here on this deployment. I would sleep like 13 hours on my days off, and when I was awake, I didn't do anything. Except feel sad. Exercise helped me like times 1000. I look forward to exercise. I get excited about our once a month base 5k's. I love sweating and challenging myself. Mostly sweating. I've pretty much become addicted to endorphines and sweat.

So I grabbed my York Peppermint Pattie, and thought, hey, if I'm gonna stop working out, might as well get serious about gaining my weight.

Then I said "&*^$ that." (Sorry, but I am a sailor, and sometimes I feel a strong word is warranted.) I'm going to medical tomorrow to get a limited duty chit, so I don't have to participate in command pt. I will kick my booty on the elliptical and the rowing machine, (since I am almost completely sure the pain is to blame on a mix of running/stairmaster goodness. My two favorites, of course.) until I have felt NO PAIN (and I am serious about it this time) for at least 2 weeks. Minimum. Then I will re-evaluate and start running SLOWLY. If I can. I'll determine then how I am, injury-wise. Once I get back to the States (and real doctors! Please don't get me started on what "free" healthcare really is.) I will get my hip/thigh checked out, and figure out my options.

If I am able to run again (PLEASE GOD), then I will go down that path. If my stupid ole legs just weren't meant to be runner's legs, I will get back into swimming. (Which I will probably do anyways, since I do love swimming so much.) If I am UNABLE to run I will sob myself to sleep realistically plan new goals for myself, involving swimming. Like THIS. This is something I was going to work on after I had my lofty goal of a marathon under my belt, but maybe it needs to get moved up.

Anyways, what I was trying to get to in this very long novel is this: Just because I can't run (hopefully temporarily), doesn't mean I have to give up my new lifestyle, or joy I get from it. I may need a few more movies on my iPod, and you may want to buy some stock in gossip magazines, since I will be buying them by the dozens to get me through BORING elliptical workouts. But I can do this. And I will.

Off to do non-running things.
-Katy

Tears and Drummers

Workout: 30 minutes weights (legs/shoulders) / 30 minutes elliptical


So I decided to get all up in the Christmas cheer this morning by listening to Christmas music on my iPod while on the elliptical. This was a bad idea of epic proportions.


At first, I was like "Heck yeah, this is putting me in such a good mood!!" But then I started thinking about the holidays, and realized cuz I seemed to had forgotten, that I was not with my family. Then I got sad. But I brushed it aside and started thinking about next year, and how it will be Shane and I's first MARRIED Christmas together, and all that jazz. Got a little bit more excited.


Then the song "The Drummer Boy" came on. Uh oh. This song makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME I hear it. Seriously. Here is this poor little boy who is supposed to give the baby Jesus a present, and he doesn't have anything, so he plays him a song. And the baby smiles at him. Oh Lord. I'm tearing up again thinking about it.  So, here I am on the elliptical gasping for breath trying to will myself not to let actual tears fall. It was AWESOME. 


I don't think I'll do that again. Except for the Jingle Bell Jog 5K this Saturday. But that's actually ON Christmas. So, it's totally different. Totally.


Happy Holidays y'all. If you are with your family and those you love, you are seriously blessed. And I'm wicked jealous. Seriously.