Just Show Up

Hey Preps!

This week I am tapering my distance run down to 14 miles...

that means cutting more calories out of the diet.  

I feel great though! 

Cut and taper time = Marathon is sooo soon!

 Pumped!

Last night after a Bootcamp class that I teach, I (being the crazy that I am) decided I needed to do a little bit more cardio for the day.  Sure, I had ran sprint intervals for my weekly 'speedwork' workout of the week earlier, but was zoning in on some chub above the knees.  We all do it.  There are always areas of our body that we feel self-concious about.  For me, I know that when I pack on a few pounds, they go straight to my booty and thighs.  Now that I am cutting for the marathon, I am slightly more self-aware of the areas I need to be targeting.  

So I sneak down to the Fitness Center by taking the back staircase from my classroom to avoid anyone who wants to talk to me for an hour.  The problem with being a trainer and teaching classes is that everyone wants your time, even when you are not on duty.  Being as busy as I am, I really can't talk to people during my own workouts.  That doesn't mean I am standoffish to people, it just means that I am matter of fact with them.  I love working with people and hearing their stories, but not when I have to crank out a run or a good solid lift (which I hardly rest in between sets) and someone comes over to me to tell me about the new helmet for their bike they got, I am supportive, but brief.  The point is, sometimes I struggle with getting in my own workouts because I am in the environment that is my profession.  

As soon as I enter the Fitness Center, a lady I work with comes blubbering in.  Gosh, I love her.  She has been kicking her own butt into shape and I am so proud of her dedication.  The issue was that she gained a pound in a month.  She gained instead of lost.  With anyone I am working with, I recommend that you don't obsess about your weight daily, but instead, weigh yourself once a month.  I also take my client's measurements so we can see where they have lost their weight.  To me, this is a more accurate count of how well you are doing...since the goal is to build lean muscle and lose fat...and fact known is muscle weights significantly more than fat.  

So, I got caught up in motivating her in other ways.  We measured her, and I asked her how her jeans were fitting.  She said loose.  I explained the muscle/fat ratio, and promised her that she would lose weight in the next three months if she kept up with her nutrition and workout plans.  

By the time that was over, it was an hour later.  I was cold from being sedentary so long after my class, and had to go through the motivation process again.  After finishing my run it was 10:30PM.  The fitness center had already closed, but since I work there I do have the advantage of staying after hours occasionally.  

I went home and ate something light since it was so late, and passed out.  

This morning, my alarm clock screeched at 5:30AM and I felt like I had gotten zero sleep.  To get up?  Not to get up?  I made the terrible decision to sleep in longer...I woke up at 6:30, and moved at a turtle pace to put on my swimsuit and make the trek over to the gym.  

"At least Janell and Heather will be gone by now..." 

I thought as I slipped into the locker room and stripped off the layers of sweats I had on.  

"Oh Kalyn! Good! You are here!  Heather and Ann are just getting in the pool!"

I turn around and there is Janell, a mother of two, a physical therapist, and an incredibly talented distance Triathlete.  

"Great. Busted."

Before I knew it, I was in a freezing cold pool pounding out sets of 200s followed by 50 sprints.  I was killing it.  I mean, they couldn't even keep up.  It was like every stroke I could pull even more water, as my legs propelled me forward in a fury of unsettled water.  Thank goodness I ran into Janell, or I would have been very lazy today.  

All three of the ladies I swim with are accomplished Triathletes.  They all have incredible careers, families (Heather is pregnant, and still keeps up with me in the water), and are some of the most dedicated athletes I know.  Do you think they have time to do a lazy workout?  Definitely not.  

I know there are days where you dread going to the gym.  It happens to all of us.  It happened to me today, yet getting up and showing up are the hardest steps in the process.  Sure, you will have to battle through sweat, pain, and really push yourself sometimes.  Yet, that's better than not showing up at all.  

For myself, I have found that the days I have little or no expectation about my workouts sometimes catch me by surprise and I leave the gym knowing I really did kick my own butt.  That's a really rewarding feeling.

I challenge you, to just show up.  No matter how hard it is, or what time limits you have, find a way.  I promise you won't disappoint yourself.  

P.S. to those who were wondering, yes, I am running the Pittsburgh Marathon!

Have a blessed day y'all!

Margaritas on my Mind

(Easter Sunday Outfit: Lilly Pulitzer Dress, Steve Madden Sling-back Sandals, 

and a Vintage, Changeable, Lilly Pulitzer Clutch)

I love spring, it means Pink and Green!

Ok, so I am just gonna vent for a second.  I am so hungry right now.  I am sitting at work and Food Network is on.  Fried twinkies.  Fried macaroni and cheese.  Everything fried seems to be the theme.  Of course someone would want to be watching the Food Network while they are working out, causing me to reap the cons of such a show.

My training for the marathon is coming to an end.  That means this final month is TAPER.  I love tapering because it means less mileage and a higher intensity.  Go hard or go home type of mindset its needed.  However, what I hate about tapering, is the fact that I have to start cutting back on the calories/fat in my diet.  When you are running 60+ miles a week, it's easy to let your diet slide a bit.  Trust me, I have been an eating machine.

 When your mileage decreases though, the diet becomes more important. This means no drinking in season (there goes my glass of vino until October), eating lean protein, and lots of veggies, limiting my sugar/fruit intake, and keeping the closest eye on my carb intake.  Since I am gluten-free, I turn my nose up at most carbs because of what they do to my body.  Yet, when my aunt makes me G-free Pumpkin Muffins, and it's time for me to cut...it's really not fun staring at them and having them stare back at you.

The month before a huge race is when I start watching everything I consume.  If it doesn't benefit my body in some way, and help to make me a better athlete, I don't eat it.  Trust me, it's extremely hard...and it means denying a ton of cravings and sometimes being a little bit hungry.

Last night I was texting my girlfriend, and mentioned how super bummed I was that my race was the day after Cinco De Mayo.  Kids, I love me some mexican food.  Everything I can eat.  Corn tortillas, rice, beans...it's a carb heaven for G-free people like me.  I also love me some Margaritas.  Mucho grande por favor.  

So, as soon as this race is over, and I am fully hydrated and functioning again.  I WILL have a Margarita, and the biggest enchilada I see.  Then it will be back to training and cutting for Triathlons.

What is the point of writing this?  First, I just needed to express my hunger.  Now I feel much better.  Second, I wanted to stress the importance of nutrition.  It is equally if not more important than your daily cardio and weight session if you are trying to lose weight.  I know it stinks sometimes, and isn't easy to always eat well.  Trust me, I am a huge fan of Skittles and Ice Cream.  However, you have to look at how the food you are eating will benefit or hurt you in the long run.  Doing so, will help you make better decisions.  I promise.

So I challenge you to eat well for a week, deny those processed foods, sugars, and fattening cravings.  You will feel so much better...and be on your way to a healthier lifestyle!