Brand Spankin' New

New Year, New Season, New Ankle!                                                                  Well, the thing about new stuff is that it never really lasts very long before it gets that first ding.  It happens all the time in the Jones household, we had our brand spankin' new stainless steal refrigerator no more than a week when our dear little Jet took his golf club to it.  Oh yes, and our 'new to us' Denali with a sweet leather interior...it was about a month before Jilian took a pencil to the headrests and Jet stuffed two discs in the DVD system, and it's never been the same.  Such is life.        I use to listen to my dad grumble, "You can nice or you can have kids!" and I always 'knew' what he meant, but I didn't 'KNOW' what he was talking about exactly.  Well Dad, //shaking head somberly// I 'KNOW' what you mean!  :)

So guess who got a brand spankin' new ankle for Christmas?!  (ME!) <<<<~~ That's right!  I DID!  Aaaaaand it took all of an hour out of my cast to slip and fall off of my crutches and come crashing down right on top my BRAND NEW ANKLE!! >:-(  I guess that falls right in line the frig the Denali and with my nasal surgery that was unwittingly undone by one well intended person, who shall remain nameless, that head butted me right in the nose three days after surgery.

~Just after the cast came off~

~After my slip & fall~

I know it looks bad, but believe me when I say it felt MUCH worse!  At this point post surgery I was just starting to get around on crutches and getting ready to take on the house and the kids on my own.  Being 'laid up' is the worst and I wouldn't have been able to do it without my family.  Aunt Haze took me in for surgery and provided the post-op entertainment and brought me deliciousness on a tray!  My BGS, Jenn, took on 6 kids and 1 very large and very anxious lap dog while Jared was at work for the first 2 days.  Then my MIL (Carolyn) who I adore and love spent 7 days tending to my 3 kids, 2 boxers and 1 large house full of chores.  She did it with grace and even made it look easy to keep everything in order and the kids happy and harmonious.  Jared took charge after Carolyn left and that's where the pressure to get back on my feet started. 

At first I really did NOT want to go to the gym.

I fought Jared every step of the way. :) (Sorry honey!)  It's not the I don't like to workout, I actually really love to workout, but I hate going to the gym when I'm hurt, out of shape or unmotivated to be there.  I am the type of person that must find my own reason or motivating factor (I refer to as my 'WHY?') that gets me to the gym.  Then I must get to the point where I don't hurt or feel like the hippo in the room before I really start to enjoy my workout.  There once was a time where I felt really beautiful and dare I say 'hot'? at the gym, those days are gone.  Replaced by feelings completely foreign to me.  Old? Plain? Flabby?!  Okay, so flabby is not so new, but I have been feeling old and as though I could be part of the paint on the wall.  

I wish I could say that I was secure enough with myself to 'not care what other people think', but how can I not care when 

>> I CARE !<< 

 As my physical therapy has progressed, I have regained some of my old confidence and with that I have felt more comfortable at the gym, so I'm starting to have fun again and enjoy the punishment.  But with a long recovery still ahead of me I will remain, cautiously, optimistic.

For now, it's back to training in what I can do and I won't worry about what I can't do.

~First training ride post-op~

Bike ride anyone?

(Well, not for reals...I still can't ride on the road just yet!)

Thank you to:

My BGS, Jenn.

To my super MIL, Carolyn.

My fun loving Aunt Haze.

and

My wonderful husband, Jared.

(Who puts up with my B.S. everyday, and loves me anyway.)

I love you all,

Kelly

Day 8... Ran my self silly!

It may have been the laughing gas, but...
I didn't really run until I was silly, but I did feel silly running at a snails pace. However, if I've learned anything from training days of old, it's not to push to hard to fast. When you have the knees of a 60yr old, plus weak ankles & hip flexors... you must take it easy at first, and just build up a little at a time.

Here's the ugly, yet good, also bad new's

Stats:
Awake: 8:00am
Dentist: 9:00am :-(
Meal #1: Vitamin's & joint supplements, 1/4 egg muffin
Snack: Chamomile tea w/honey
Meal #2: Ham & Swiss on whole wheat oat w/ honey mustard sauce
Pre WorkOut: N.O. Explode
Post WorkOut: Protein Shake
Meal #3: Pasta w/herb sauce & apples
Desert: Chocolate chip cookie (the devil made me do it!)

Work Out:
Tread Mill: 3.35 miles 389 calories burned
Swim: 300 meters mixed stroke
Total time: 53 minutes

Conclusion:
I had a rough start on Day 8, it started with yet another dentist appointment, getting hopped up on laughing gas, numbed up the left side of my mouth and nose, & getting to the gym at 1pm instead of the usual 10am. I have a much better workout when I get it done early, but I still had a pretty good burn considering my morning feeling like everything was really funny, and going in super fast motion. All things considered, I'm patting myself on the back for getting to the gym at all... I really didn't have a choice, my training partner paid for my race registration. (And threatened to kick my (*&$#!) if I didn't finish it!
Everyone needs a little voice in their head that say's something half way threatening or encouraging when things get tough! :-)

Day 7...R&R

So sorry...computer issues delayed day's 7 & 8. In a nut shell, I took a very much needed rest on day 7...taking in a little R&R. I also enjoyed a 'free day' and took in some much desired food from the naughty list! Ahhhhh, I needed that!

Day 6!!! One Week Down!

I made it through week one! I'm still breathing, all parts and pieces accounted for, and... I'm still having fun!

Stats:
Awake: 8:00am :-( (oh how I was looking forward to sleeping in!)
Scales Says: 147 lbs
Meal #1: 1/2 Bran muffin, Vitamin C, Multi-Vitamin Pack, & H2O
Pre Workout: Protein Shake
Workout:
3 sets of each, reps varied depending on difficultly.
Abs: Hanging leg raise (owie!) Weighted toe touches, Straight leg Windmill, Weighted Crunch, Oblique twists, Captain's Chair Knee tucks. I'm not really sore either, proving that after taking a 4 month break since teaching Ab classes, they still recovery quickly and strengthen quickly!
Legs: Leg Press, Leg Extension, Hamstring Curl, Adductors, Abductors, Calf Raises
Total Time: 60 minutes

Post Workout: Protein Shake
Meal #2: Ham & Swiss sandwich on Whole Wheat & Oat
Meal #3: The Happy Sumo, okay, I KNOW that doesn't help my goals, but it was SO good! Really, you should try it! California Rolls, Happy Hawaiian (Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken & Veggies mmmmmm)

Okay, so I indulged myself for a little girls night pleasure...sue me.

Conclusion:
You can deprive yourself and expect to be happy on your way to 6 six heaven...enjoy something you really shouldn't at least once a week! That being said, my sin was not junk for, but over-eating...who can help it will such succulent sushi rolls staring at your amongst the gari & soy sauce? Plus, if you are burning as many calories in a day as I am...you need to eat! Just pace yourself, as I intend to do...next time >:-) !!!

Day 5,...sweet victory!

Today's workout felt great! I swam a lot better than last time, didn't drown myself, and even keep up with my training buddy (who is also my big sister, Jenn...a superior swimmer.) I think the difference may be in the calories, or maybe just not pushing myself so hard. Whatever it was...I'm hooked! I'm so excited for the race I'm also disappointed I have to wait five months to run it!

Looking forward to more victory! In the mean time... here's how today looked.

Stats:
Awake: 8:30am (thanks so one very lovely kitty cat, or no-thanks!)
Scale Says: 147 lbs. (don't freak out... muscle, it's all muscle baby!)
Morning Additions: 12oz water, vitamin C, multi-vitamin pack
Meal #1: 1/4 Bran Muffin, 6oz Chamomile Tea
Meal#2: High Protein Smoothie... I'll post the recipe...this one's a keeper!

Workout: Lap Swim, mixed stroke, 1500 meters, approx. 45-50 minutes to complete (with a little chit-chat between sets!)

Snack: Power Bar
Meal #3: Chicken Sandwich w/BBQ sauce & Swiss Cheese
Snack: Green Drink (Energy drink that has all your 'greens' packed inside mmmm good!)

Total Calories Consumed: 2000 (that maybe less, I did sneak a few PB chocolate chips in just now!)

Conclusion:
Feeling like a failure yesterday was terrible, feeling like a winner today makes yesterdays failure seem really small. However, had it not been for resent failures, today would not have been as sweet! It's twisted...but I loved that my failure boasted the effects of my success. Bring on the failure, or whatever it takes to turn this lowly mommy of two, wife-e to one, into an unstoppable force of nature.
I have my training buddy to thank, I always have my training buddy to thank! Every good time I've ever had in a gym came from my training buddies... today, my best-est good sister, Jenn. In the past it's been my mom, my other sisters, my friends, and of course my hubby. Here's to all my training buddies!...I love you! If you don't have a training buddy, GET ONE!

Let the Training Begin!

Okay, here it is... tell all training from ugly start to beautiful training!

Stats: Jan 5th, 8am
Scales Says: 147.5 lbs (not bad, but fla-B!)
Breakfast: Oat & Fruit Smoothie (Good start!)
Lunch: Grilled Cheese w/bacon & tomato soup (What the!...okay just wait I will get better!)
Dinner: Whole grain pasta w/red sauce, brussel sprouts & H2O (brussels totally erases the bacon...right!)

Workout:
Stationary Bike: 14 miles
Tread Mill: 1.36 miles (5.0-6.0)
Total Calories Burned: 493.3

How'd it Go?: I know I can do better than that on the stationary bike! When picking your equipment it's really important to get a well functioning, stable machine... not one that starts bucking around the minute you hit 90rpm! Next brick I'll start with a better bike, that's for sure!
Although the ride was rough, I still go a really good burn, and I started to worry I wouldn't be about to run afterwards. To be pleasure, I felt great on the treadmill and was disappointed to stop my run at 1.36 miles... but I'd tapped out my 'play room' time which only allows for 90 minutes.
Post workout went great too, I still had 1/2 a smoothie left in the truck so I got some protein back in my system PDQ, that helped a lot. It's now 8 hours post workout and I'm hardly sore at all, but still very hungry, even after dinner!

Goal:
My goal here is to compete in an Ironman someday, however, I'm now blogging my short term goal of running the Salem Spring Triathlon, which is a 'sprint' 800 meter open water swim, 14 mile bike ride, & 3.5 mile run to finish up.
Also, I want a nice, lean body with lots of energy, and not just being a skinny-fat-chick, being truly fit, with a healthy ticker and the whole package.

Challenges:
I love food, and not just any food...the stuff that will stop your heart, if not suddenly...over time. Brie cheese, or any cheese for that matter tops the list, not to mention sweets, and the biggest heart-breaker Dr. Pepper! I've been clean now since the first and plan to stay that way, but man do I love a cold DP. Baked goods with also hold me back, I LOVE breads of all sorts, and prefer the kind that will slowly fill my arteries with something other than blood...but like a smoker, who knows it will her, but refuses to stop... I just can't help myself.
Injures are also a big challenge, for those of you who know me, you know the list, but for those of you who don't here's a short summary:
Broken Back
Dislocation Pelvis
Several Broken Toes
Cracked Collar Bone
Strained Right Ankle
ACL Replacement
Knee Strains
Tennis Elbow
Broken Nose
Arthritis in my knees, back and hands
I've also had a 3 surgery's over the past 3 years, one of which was an emergency... very painful, I'll spare the details. As you can gather, injury finds me, my last attempt at training flopped due to over-training and subsequent muscle injuries. Needless to say this is a big factor and a fear I face this time around.

Bonus':
I do have some huge plus' in my corner this go around! I am now a certified personal trainer, group exercise instructor, & a yoga specialist. Add that to many years as a massage therapist and I have an arsenal of education & resources at my disposal. I also have to very important people with me this time, my husband, Jared who keeps exercise fun, and my bestest good sister, Jenn. Jenn and I have traded training experiences and tips for the past few years, but now we live close enough to really lean on each other. We've registered for the Salem Triathlon, and we're going to drag each other across that finish line if we have to! Hopefully, we'll sell across with great ease and to the astonishment of our family and friends... but this is supposed to be a completely honest blog, I just hope we're able to walk across!

Conclusion:
My intention is to record my training experience as completely and honestly as possible, to further myself and perhaps your exercise experience too! Enjoy it, for the pain, enjoy for the progress, enjoy it from your cushy computer chair! For whatever your reason I hope you get as much out of it as I hope to.

Later-
Kelly