uhhhh

Hey, remember that time I used to blog and exercise and eat well? Yeah, me too. Things have been hectic. I moved 10 hours away and started a new job in the middle of nowhere, Texas. Fort Davis, to be exact. Population: 1,000. I couldn't ask for better weather compared to the sticky coast, but my skin is drier than, well, something very dry.

I've been walking and hiking, but not as much as I should be. I might start writing in this thing again, but it will be difficult considering my computer is no longer functioning.

But for now, just know I am alive.

God there's nothing like trying on an old pair of pants to make you feel like complete shit. I've got to get my shit together. It was a reality check to try to wiggle into those pants and find that they barely go up over my (now) giant ass. I don't even want to step on the scale. So I won't. But I am going to start counting calories I think, as a means to just keep track of what I'm eating. I'm not so much worried about a number, but more about the quality of food items that I'm putting into my body. I am going to try out more new Paleo recipes and I'll share them here as I make my attempts, bad or good. 

I just want to be able to wear my pants again. Working out starts September 1st, but for now I have a seven day stretch at work that is sucking the life out me. I plan on fitting in at least 20 minutes of walking my little Dottie at least every other day for now.

i suck.

I haven't worked out in two weeks. I have been so unbelievably stressed out. I've been having nightmares, I missed my period (NOT pregnant, no worries), and my body just is exhausted. It sucks. My eating has been pretty great, though. Stickin' to Paleo for the most part.

I've decided to (probably) opt out of the Rock 'N Roll San Antonio half marathon. I'm not where I need to be in terms of my starting point, I don't have enough time to safely get there, and I'm realizing that endurance running, at least this distance, isn't really my thing. Especially right now at this point in my life, I just don't have the time or energy to put toward months of training. I'm still planning on aiming for the 10K in October, though. I hate to feel like I've failed by giving up on my other half, but I just don't see it happening... Ideally I am going to just devote more time to lifting heavy things and dancing and running shorter distances without having to feel completely obliged to not miss a single run or else risk not being ready for some stinky old half marathon. BLECH.

I won a thingymabob from my work that you can wear on your arm and it calculates how many calories you burn throughout the day and shit. I'm curious to give it a whirl. I feel like I burned a bajillion calories at work today.

And I'll leave you with a recipe for the delicious Paleo dinner that I gorged myself on tonight.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. of lean ground beef (or turkey! you pick!)
• one jar of organic pasta sauce (check the label for shitty ingredients)
• 2 cups of spinach (and/or any other vegetables you want to add to the sauce)
• four zucchinis
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced 

1.  Pour 1 tbsp. of olive into large sauce pan. Add half of the garlic to the oil and brown.
2. Add whatever ground meat you choose. Cook until browned.
3. Meanwhile, rinse your zucchini and peel each one down, leaving the seedy middle.
4. Add the other tbsp. of olive oil to another pan and brown the remaining garlic in that.
5. Add the thin zucchini slices do the olive oil and sautee until cooked.
6. When the meat is browned, add the pasta sauce, spinach, and whatever else you decide (get creative!) and simmer for a few minutes 'till it's all cooked down and bubbly and delicious.
7. Use the zucchini peels as spaghetti, serve the sauce on top, and voila! Paleo pasta!

Serves 4. Or in my case two because I am a fatty and ate two zucchini's worth of peels. Not a single fuck is given, except that I have a food baby.

and so training season begins again...

Last week was a pretty damn good week. I worked out almost every day. Heeeeeeeeere's the breakdown:

• Monday - Zumba
• Tuesday - full body strength training, 2.5 mile run
• Wednesday - Zumba
• Thursday - full body strength training
• Friday - 3 mile run, zumba

I missed my Saturday Body Pump plans. I was a little disappointed but I needed the rest. The running has been tough this week. Especially that 3 mile one. It took me about 35 minutes to run a 5K. That seems a little pathetic for me. I guess I can't expect to be kicking ass right from the get go, but it's so disheartening to see (and feel) how much endurance I've lost. I used to run 4 miles a few times a week, no problem. I've gotta get back to that point!

This week is going to be a little off since I'm traveling out of town for a job interview mid-week. This is my tentative plan:

• Sunday - full body strength training
• Monday - 4 mile run in the AM before work
• Tuesday - full body strength training in AM before hitting the road
• Wednesday - walking
• Thursday - Zumba
• Friday - 3 mile run and/or Zumba
• Saturday - Body Pump, 4 mile run (first run of half marathon training!)

I've gotta get my fill of Studio Vida! Zumba while I'm home. I sure do love that place.

I can't believe my fall half marathon training is already starting. Fuck, I am not ready.

falling behind, trying to catch up.

Been kickin' some ass this week so far.

My Tuesday run was HARD. Like... I was huffing and puffing the whole way through. It was my first outdoor run since Beach to Bay in May. Between the heat, the wind, and the variations in incline, it was a challenge. I did 2.48 miles in 26:30, which put me at about a 10:40 min/mile pace. Not too bad, but for the effort... well I've got some improving to do. I'm planning on running three miles today, but I think I will slow the pace down to around 11 min/mile for this one.

As far as training for my upcoming races goes, I should be running 4 miles by early August. I am not sure that's going to happen. I'll have to alter my half marathon training schedule as needed, I guess. I have my 10k in October, which I'm not worried about being ready for. I have plenty of time to get up to 6 miles before then. But that half marathon... I shouldn't have been slacking on my running as much as I have been. Way to go, Nina.

I am contemplating registering to the Rock 'N' Roll New Orleans half marathon again. Two of my buddies are signing up for it. It's hard to turn down a road trip/race/buddy run event. I'll have to think on it and figure out what I can manage in terms of money, time off, and time invested in training. I have until October to decide, luckily.

Anyways, this morning I woke up and went to the gym before work again. Here's how it went:

• 3x15 deadlifts 30 lbs. (lowered weight to work on my form)
• 3x15 squats 40 lbs
• 3x15 upright rows 30 lbs
• 3x12 overhead press 30 lbs.
• 3x20 side bends 25 lbs.
• 3x15 bent rows 50 lbs.

Yep.

Last week was a pretty big bust. I only did zumba twice, I think. That was it. I can chalk it up to it being my birthday week and wanting to celebrate, but the fact of the matter is - I was being lazy. 100% lazy (well, maybe 90% since I did go to zumba twice). But I'm getting my shit back into gear with my eating and working out. Here's the plan for another fun-filled week:

• Monday - Zumba
• Tuesday - strength training in AM, 2.5 mile run PM
• Wednesday - Zumba
• Thursday - strength training in AM, 3 mile run PM
• Friday - Zumba
• Saturday - Body Pump

No excuses this week, damnit.

This morning I got up at 6AM and headed to the gym for a 30 minute lifting session. It has been about two weeks since I went and lifted (not counting Body Pump, which wasn't so much heavy lifting but lots of repititions - it still kicked my ass, though). This morning consisted of:

• 3x15 squats - 40 lbs. barbell
• 3x14 lunges - 30 lbs. dumbells
• 3x15 overhead press - 30 lbs. barbell
• 2x12 tricep kickback - 10 lbs. dumbell
• 3x15 bent row - 40 lbs. barbell

Isn't that so interesting? I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat.

whaaaat?

It's already been nine days since I posted?! Damn, time flies. I have been keeping up with my workouts for the most part... my mom came to visit last weekend so my eating wasn't the best, but I stuck with working out. Hmmm, let me see if I can remember how last week went...

• Sunday - full body strength training
• Monday - 2.5 mile run
• Tuesday - full body strength training
• Wednesday - Zumba
• Thursday -2.5 mile run
• Friday - rested
• Saturday - Body Pump

Dude. Body Pump. It was freaking awesome and HARD. I was sore for three days afterward. Seriously.

Here's what this week has been/will be...ish:

• Sunday - zumba
• Monday - rest
• Tuesday - rest
• Wednesday - zumba
• Thursday - full body strength training, 2 mile run
• Friday - zumba
• Saturday - MY BIRTHDAAAAAAY! 5K birthday run, full body strength training

So yeah. My food has sucked for the most part the past few days. I've had a slice of cake for dinner three nights in a row. I'm going to get back onto my fairly rigid paleo diet. I think I'd like to have seafood for my birthday, so I'm sure I can still stick to the paleo pretty well even with going out to eat. I will probably have a few glasses of wine, too... I know, I know. But it's my birthday!

I don't want to overdo it, though, because I have plans for Sunday to get shit done, seeing as it's my only day off. I want to make pickles.

Training has to start for my upcoming races soon... crazy!