40 Days Fit - Day 8

I hate being human. I hate the fact that I get sick, that there are limits to what I am capable of and that not everything can be achieved, no matter how vast your efforts. Today was one of those days where the human limits hit me. I've been sick all day with bad body aches, head pressure and way too many hours of sleep. 

Obviously, I had to cancel my training session tonight (I didn't even make it to work today, which is a big deal for me) and I am not sure how I will feel in the morning. If anything, I hope I feel somewhat better and at least able to get through the workday. 

I guess this means that I may have broken Lent, but I am pretty sure that sickness is a pretty good reason. I'll be back to it soon, just need a little more rest and Vitamin C. 

40 Days Fit - Day 7

Why is rest so important? We think that keeping our bodies moving constantly will only make them better. But after yesterday, I realized it may be time for a recovery. Still, I woke up at 6 am, headed out the door, and did split cardio between the elliptical and a fast paced run. Of course, the one day I decide to wear leggings with a rip in the knee, there was a damn handsome man in the gym (typical). But, my plan was also to run for a half hour later today (short by my standards at the moment, since I am training for a half marathon). However, I am thinking this session will be skipped and that I will wait until my Wednesday training session with Bing to workout again.

Sometimes, you just need a break. And thankfully, it's a good thing for you. I've been getting sick, I feel it coming on, so with a straight week of training now is the perfect time to take a night off. What can this break for a day do for me?

• I will be able to sleep much better. Going right to bed after you get your adrenaline has been pumping can keep you tossing and turning at night. 
• I'm allowing my body plenty of time to rebuild those muscles I have been training
• Rest and relaxation prevents injuries (which I am prone to already)
• I'll return better - stronger, faster, etc...and ready for Bing's training session on Wednesday
• I can recover mentally and emotionally. This will prevent burnout. 
• I can get my ever-growing to do list in my head checked off!

Yay for rest days! And actual logic behind them...

40 Days Fit - Day 6

Overkill: It happens to everyone. I think today, I did an overkill with my workout. It started at 6am, with an early 30 minutes on the elliptical. Easy enough. Next, straight to the gym after work. My warm-up consisted of a quick mile run, then off to Bing I went. I told her to go hard on me, since I was only running for a half hour tomorrow.

She destroyed me. My quads were burning and buckling on me. I could barely finish that last curl. She even made the comment "Girl, you sweat a lot". Yes... I know. Thank my dad for that one. Guess it means I was working.

There was a yoga class scheduled for 7:30, right after my 7-7:30 trainer session. I thought this would be a good idea. I've been neglecting my stretching post-workout. Then we started doing push ups, squats, and what seemed like forever warrior poses. As a coping mechanism, I laugh. Well, I chuckled during yoga. I was THAT person, the one I hate when I am trying to focus on yoga, finding my "strength within", and I was the girl I despise that was laughing in the back of the class. 20 minutes in, I was tempted to grab my shoes and run. Somehow I stayed. I'm really not one to quit, on anything, so walking out of a class is definitely not in my personal rule book.

Finally, when I left the gym at 8:45, I remembered I hadn't been grocery shopping in forever. I planned on going tonight, so I wobbled into Disco Kroger, sweaty with my quick list on the phone. In and out, and back home. What a day - I am completely wiped. We will see if tomorrow involves an early workout. My aching body needs some rest, and I'm starting to feel the beginning of an itchy throat coming (I CAN'T get sick). Beware of overkill - it's an exercise high killer, and more damaging than beneficial.

40 Days Fit - Day 5

I learned something to remember today - 5 pints of beer, one bloody mary, 50 oysters, and lobster bisque over a 2 day festival does not work well when you try to run 4 miles fast afterwards. All of this was consumed over a two day period and in between my Saturday morning and Sunday night run. 

Oysterfest 2012 was turned out really well, and will be something to attend next year. The bands were ok, the food was great, but the best part was the people watching. It's always neat to see the differences in crowds to one event, and this only proved it. Whether it was the women dressed with easter- like hats, the creepy old men hitting on the drunk 20-something blond girls, or the one girl who decided to wear her black six inch stilettos to a beer guzzling-esque event that involved getting dirty cracking open shells, it kept the entertainment going. 

Emily and I headed to it Saturday, when it was really busy. We ended up staying till close, then headed to Steamhouse for their lobster bisque, which with a little Texas Pete deserves its "famous" title. I found one of my good friends, Devin (check out his 100 Days To Win blog), on Saturday as well. I got him to head back with me on Sunday for some oyster lunch and a more relaxed day with kids throwing footballs on the field. I also came away from the festival with 3 koozies, and if you know me, that made my weekend. 

After a long day and some awkward tan lines today (Atlanta had the most BEAUTIFUL weather today), I finally pushed myself to run towards Midtown from Buckhead, which is needing to turn back into my normal route. It is notorious for hills, especially the one known as cardiac hill for those running the Peachtree Road Race every 4th of July. Mile one and a half went quickly, and felt great, but then I started to regret that extra oyster bucket I made Devin eat with me today. 

My goal was 4 miles. I knew where the 2 mile mark was, so I pushed, even though it felt like I was needing to find a nice bush at any moment. I kinda wish it did happen- then I might not have felt so awful going back. But either way, I did my 9 miles total this weekend, along with eliminating some of the Vitamin D deficiency that rainy Atlanta weekends have caused. Let's hope the weather stays like this for a little bit, since Bourbon, Beer and BBQ is up next on the list (along with 3 days with Bing, just for that reason) for this weekend. If you need a little extra motivation, I opened up the VS Swimsuit catalogue today. Guess it's getting to push time...

40 Days Fit - Day 4

Today was an early morning since the same went for Friday night. I was headed out early for Stone Mountain for a run, and more importantly to see my brother's first regatta. At 8am, he was off. We weren't able to see much of the race (it was a scrimmage), but I plan to go to a larger one soon that has a little more "view" while watching this absolutely beautiful sport.

After the race, I headed out for a run around Stone Mountain. They have 5 and 8 mile loops, along with a 1.3 mile hike up the mountain. I opted for the 5 mile loop. It was absolutely beautiful. At about 45 to 50 degrees outside, the temperature was just right for me. It also amazed me how I could feel a complete difference in how I was breathing. In Atlanta, and on Peachtree, I am obviously in a fog of exhaust for my runs, but going through an area where nothing but runners and bikes are allowed really changed the air quality and allowed my breathing to feel incredible! Instead of bore today with long writing, I decided to mix it up with some photos - change it up a little. Here are those I took on my run:

The front of the mountain, with Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis carved on

End of the run, and no sign of this hill's end 

Off to Day 1 of the 25th Oysterfest in Atlanta! Go out and enjoy this absolutely gorgeous weekend day!

40 Days Fit - Day 3

It's weird, but I was actually excited this morning to head into work. As most everyone knows, I was working out of my office for the past month at a client's. I've repeatedly stated that it was an amazing learning experience and a unbelievable opportunity, but by the end I was so mentally drained that getting back home to Studio 7 was something being looked forward to. It felt like I was coming back home from college to see my family. I missed them, and I wanted to see how things had changed in the office since I had left. I was not dissapointed. It was the same, but the growth that the company is having is great, and exciting. I feel like I am coming back to work refreshed, with a deeper appreciation for the people I work with, and ready to work even harder to keep the company growing. 

I woke up "late" today at 6:30. Normally that is the time that I leave for work in the morning, so it felt late. I immediately rolled out of bed and headed to my small apartment gym for a quick cardio workout. I think this new wake up timing for me is a good thing. I really don't feel like going to the gym for over an hour on a Friday night, so getting my day going with 30 minutes on the elliptical seems like the best option for me. I could still close my eyes as the minutes ticked up on the time completed on my machine. In my tiny gym, there were 5 people already there, doing the same as me. I've never seen more than 2 in there at once, so it felt neat to know that there were other people doing the same thing and committing themselves to these early mornings before a full day of work ahead. 

The morning routine actually got me up and moving for my full day, 9-6 (6:15 really) at work. I was energetic, ready to jump back into all of the projects I left behind and take on the challenge of writing LOTS of thank you letters. After work, I headed to Urban Active to visit my new best friend Bing. She asked if I had run yesterday, and I loved being able to say yes without disappointing her (although she wanted me to run an extra 15 mintues). We did a lot of ab and arm workout again, nothing out of the usual but the use of a little extra rope work. It wasn't one of those workouts that exhausted me, but I was kind of glad since I worked hard the rest of this week. I also think that 2-a-days are going to become my new favorite routine.

I don't see Bing until Monday, so running (and possibly Yoga) will be involved all this weekend. My brother has a regatta meet tomorrow at Stone Mountain, right outside of Atlanta early in the morning. I don't feel like going out tonight - my body needs a break - so I am staying in, waking up early, and headed to see him race around 8am. I've never been to one of his meets, and he has been on the UGA Crew team for almost two full years. I'll bring my camera, and hopefully get some shots of him and the early morning, crisp Stone Mountain morning. I'm also planning on going for a run afterwards. I'm supposed to run a 10K (6.2 miles), so after his races are over I'll try to do that on the mountain and then head to the Oysterfest in Atlanta for some seafood and beer. Hope everyone had a great week and can also fit in some fun this weekend!

40 Days Fit - Day 2

Today was a BIG day! I finished my contract position with UPS, and tomorrow will be the first day back at the Propel office in a month. It is going to feel like coming home from college, when a lot will be the same, but you can notice changes immediately. From what I have heard though, Propel is up to a lot, and many things have changed. Being so consumed in this UPS project, I haven't had the chance to catch up on what my company has been doing, so I am excited to see the growth that have been whispering about.

It was also a big day with training. I used to be able to do 8 to 9 miles easy. It didn't take much to run out and back to the Woodruff Arts Center/High Museum area, which is exactly 4 miles from me. But today, it was difficult. There is a combination of things that I could say are the "cause" of why I didn't feel as strong as usual, but let's be honest - I haven't been running as much as I should have. I need to stop making excuses. No matter how tired, sore, or the small amount of time I have, I need to get my running training in if I want to do this half in 20 days without feeling awful the whole time. I could run a half marathon right now, but would I really want to? NO WAY. 

About a mile in, I saw out of the corner of my eye someone coming behind me. It was a taller guy, probably about my age, and obviously fit. Considering the thermometers along Peachtree said it was 76 degrees at 5pm today, he was also shirtless. He definitely looked like a runner. I dropped a little behind him and to the side, thinking that he would easily pass me. 

He didn't. We paced with each other for about another mile and a half, until we ran up "Cardiac Hill" and I dropped behind. I think I had also been running a little longer than him. A mile down the road, there he was, crossing the street. Good to know I didn't fall too far behind. 

There were so many people out today, probably because of the amazing weather we are having. It felt like a fall day, with a small chill and breezy. But for me, even if it is freezing out, my face will without fail get red and I will start to sweat. I've always loved the saying "If you look pretty after, you're not pushing hard enough." It seems like the motto to my fitness life. 

Lucky for me, a gas station is right next to my apartment. I had brought my credit card in my spy belt (the best running purchase I have EVER made) and ran in to grab some Powerade Zero. I hadn't purchased them in a while, but my trainer said it's a great idea after a hard workout, so I did. As a complete surprise, they now have Fruit Punch flavor - pretty much made my day.

So now, my body is sore everywhere, I have a training session tomorrow and I will be popping some serious Aleve to make my body feel human again. I can't wait to "sleep in" tomorrow (7am) with work not being till 9. My body needs rest, and it is telling me it does by having the starting symptoms of sick. Let's hope that isn't the case.

If you are a runner, check out the new "My Race Calendar" page I added to my blog. I decided to sign up for about 5 races today, so let me know if you will be there too!

My Lent Commitment: 40 Days Fit - Day 1

For Lent, I've decided to do a new series for my blog. I have been trying to figure out how to begin noting my new venture with a trainer and the continuing running training, and the commitment to Lent has come at the perfect time. So, for 40 days, I will be blogging daily about what I am doing, eating, my running, my training, etc... as far as fitness is concerned. I just started with my trainer and am in the middle of training for a half marathon. I can't wait to share what I am up to, and hopefully inspire others.

Today was the first day that the contract work I have been doing finally slowed down. I have been working 12 hour days, with no breaks long enough to even run down to get water. My designer, Tina, has been working just as hard if not more, creating awesome presentations for the conference that this work was for. It was definitely a pressure cooker scenario, and being that we both enjoy staying active, a time we felt that we were pushing any sort of physical activity to the side.

Yesterday, I got home around 7, was eating my turkey and vegetable crock pot meatloaf, and got a text from my trainer, Bing - "Where are you?". CRAP. With my trainer, I sign up for sessions online. I am planning on going 3 times a week for a bit - Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays. Apparently I signed up for the wrong date and left her hanging. If you know me, this is completely out of character, and I felt so rude considering she was waiting for me at the gym. I was wasting her time.

She of course is very nice, and let me reschedule for today. I was nervous throughout today, thinking that she would kick my butt since I messed up yesterday. Well, she didn't kick my butt too much since I am running 1.5 hours tomorrow, but my arms are a different story. After some lunges, squats and kettle ball work, she switched to focusing on my whole upper body, going reps past what I though I could, no breaks and pushing me. Just what I need. I was starting to see the veins in my forearms bulge. That's when you know you are working them, or at least for me. She moved to the ground with my, focusing on abs along with a medicine ball to continue working my arms simultaneously. Those last 2 reps out of 15 burned, but it got done.

I didn't think I would be able to get through it all today honestly. I could barely keep my eyes open at 5:30, and my training session wasn't until 7:30. Updated tomorrow (and a sore arm status) on how my run goes, but I also want to mention that I WILL be posting before and after results for the 40 days. I know where I am now, but not quite ready to share. Big reveal to come!

Off to bed for me. I think this is the first time in a month that I will sleep in on a workday. Tomorrow is the wrap up for my contract work and back to Propel on Friday. I can't wait to see what the office has been up to - it has been just a full month since I have been there. But, this conference experience has been unlike any other.

Day 1

Instead of celebrating Valentine's Day like the rest of the human population, I'm celebrating my Day 1 of the next year. I guess you could call it my new year, but that would be too much for me to keep up with, on top of every other thing I "start" at some point. Why is it Day 1 for me today?

Yesterday was my first personal training sessions with Bing. We discussed what the next month or two would look like- training, diet and exercise, so that is why today is Day 1. My new plan starts now.

 Luckily she turned to me after and said I was no weakling. That was a boost. I also got asked about my boyfriend by another trainer, JB... that was another story. Apparently I have a boyfriend I didn't know about. I cleared that up pretty quickly.

So, here goes Day 1. No chocolate on Valentine's Day for me. I'll be celebrating with a quick run and baking some goodies for guy friends (which I am NOT touching). I'm excited for this next year commitment, for the accountability that Bing will hold me to, and to see the changes I will go through. Here's to Day 1!

...And Then I Met JB

I found myself quickly lying on my back on the blue mat, feet propped up on the stability ball. I needed to shut my eyes for a second and let the blood rush back to my head so the dizzy feeling would stop. I remember this feeling, from high school, when I would do 400 sprints over and over again. Track days in Georgia during March and April were always the worst. Too hot, too little water and not enough time in between sets.

But I hadn't just been running sprints, and it wasn't the middle of spring. I was at my gym having a fitness assessment for personal training done. Going into the test, I was unsure if personal training was something I would really be interested in. But laying on the ground, feeling how hard my body had been pushed after less than 15 minutes, I knew it was for me. I hated feeling that my body wasn't capable. I guess I have gotten so used to doing what I'm good at - running. I can go for long distances, I know how to improve my speeds and I am comfortable with it. This was not comfortable.

But comfort isn't something my body needs. I want to challenge it. I signed up immediately for a year long personal training package. JB, a man stacked with pure muscle and triple my size, put my body through hell. But he was just testing me to see who would be the best fit for helping me reach my fitness goals. He chose Bing. She bikes over 300 miles a week, trains daily and has a list of client to prove it. I had seen her working with others at the gym, and now I was going to join those poor people who looked utterly wiped after a half hour with her.

I met with her for the first time on Saturday for my measurements and to get down my starting points. Today is the first day of real training, and I'm looking forward to seeing some of those numbers and measures go down. It will definitely be my next fitness challenge, as I am still training for a half marathon while working with Bing 3 times a week. But she is an endurance athlete, so if anything she will help me decrease my time even more (as a reminder, my goal for the 13.1 miles is under 2 hours) while getting my body into a completely new shape. Here goes, Day 1- bring it!

30 Minutes is All it Takes

I first saw this group's work in school, and now they are finally coming up with videos that apply to everyone! As most of you know, I love getting my health kick so finding this gem brought a little jump to my day.

Superbowl XLVI

Of course I baked - would you expect anything less? Unfortunately, my team lost, but fortunately these treats were winners at my friend's party. 

Just the beginning...

It was a difficult day on my baking tools

Soon to be footballs

Chocolate ganache on vanilla cakes

Chocolate with Coffee Frosting 

THE whoopie pies

Standing Apart: A Body of Work

Interested in Marketing yourself differently?

Seth Godin wrote today about showing off your “Body ofWork”, meaning an easy to find trace of your accomplishments. Obviously, it can be hard to display the intangibles and efforts that you created or did that lead to the success of a project. Godin got me thinking: “How do I, a person in a managerial and client service position, display my successes?”

Surprisingly, I have been trying to answer this question for a while. I’ve done a little research in the past, but haven’t found much luck in my question being answered. The resume used to be the go-to for applying with potential employers or being accepted for certain memberships and committees. But today, a resume is just a piece of written paper with your titles, duties and a little insight into what you do. Does it really show where you excel and what type of backbone you provide for the company body? No. I can tell you that even looking at resumes makes me cringe, and I am not the one hiring people. It is white and black, a crammed up sheet of words and completely un-inspiring.

So how does someone that really will never have a portfolio of design work and pictures of engineering feats in a pretty leather case show their accomplishments?

My BEST guess – an online, highly visual and to the point case study.

What is my action plan? Luckily, I work within a company that does lots of design work and produces actually products such as websites, advertisements, print media etc… and can add these as visual points within my online portfolio. The case studies should be short and sweet: Problem, Action, and Outcome. Make sure to list and highlight how without you working on the project, the outcome would have been different and possibly not a success.

** For those in my situation, make sure you are allowed to use items created at work. Double-check with your employer!

As a side note though – I am not someone who is on the hunt for a new job. This online portfolio would serve as more of a measure of where I can improve. I can look back at projects and say, “What could I have done differently to produce a better outcome?” It will also aid in different committees and boards that I would one day like to join. Currently, I am looking with getting more involved with the Terry Young Alumni, Junior League Atlanta and the Atlanta or Buckhead Alliance. In the future, an MBA is also looking pretty swell, and I feel this would be a great aid to any application I should send out.

For those like me that don’t have design portfolios, how do you plan to show off your work and success?