Relax and Take Note...

With everything finally starting to get moving in the health and wellness category of my life, but some bumps in the road poppin up, I thought now would be a good time to regroup and reanalyze my workout and how I am going to conquer the next 25-30 pounds without hurting anything or inefficiently.

Mo Runnin, Mo Problems
So, I started to get a bit discouraged with my run routine because of the shin splint recurrence. I haven't quit the C25K training, but I haven't been on the treadmill since Wednesday morning. I felt like I needed to slow down. My competitive nature had me wanting to attack each week like GRR! but the fact remains that I DO have shin splints and I DO have the wrong shoes and I do not have time for an injury that leaves me incapacitated. SO I have to slow down. In two ways. Firstly, I have to slow down my speed (I'm currently running at 4.8-5.0 and walking at 2.8-3.0). Secondly, I have to master a week first before moving on to the next. It's called condition training. Athletes do it all the time. I have to condition my body and that shin splint to the work I am putting in, before I can ask it to do more than that... or I am setting myself up for painful failure. So, on week three I will stay until I feel more comfortable to move on. In fact, I may stay on week 3 until I get the new shoes I absolutely need. Then try to move on to week four run intervals in the proper shoes and try those out on my shin splint since Fleet Feet has a 21-day return policy.

Beefing up Le Cardio
So I had been running and not much else for cardio with an occasional Turbo Jam here and there. I've decided, I really have to ramp up my activity on the cardio side for now and focus on more strength training after I break the 160 barrier. At 155 in 2006, I was still a little flabby in the back area. So at 160 I will start beefing up my strength training, but for now, I am going to take that down a notch, because strength training makes me hungrier because of the calories I'm burning, but I don't actually know what my caloric intake should be on those days and I feel I am still to early in the weight loss process to try and gamble. I want calorie restriction, muscle conditioning and THEN I'll work on getting stronger. For now, I just need to keep my muscles present (don't wanna lose em or weaken them with so much cardio and NO strength training) with endurance lifting. So I will do my C25K three times a week (75 minutes) and elliptical (150 minutes) and Turbo Jam 2 times a week (100 minutes) for a total of 325 minutes a week. Turbo Sculpt for strength, Thin Thighs for lower body for FOUR weeks.. and then reevaluate on Monday August 17...

Chocolate City Dreamin
My goal is to break the 160 barrier before exiting the month of July (three pounds in two weeks). But also I am trying to lose about 5 more to be at 165 by the time I tentatively travel to DC for some work I am negotiating and trying to line up. I will run into some old faces from my 150-lb days, so it's mighty important to stick to the plan so I don't arrive too much over weight. lol

Serenity is nigh
So, I have found the final piece (chaise lounge loveseat) to add to my Serenity Room. A room I am creating in the upper level of my home where I can pray, meditate, watch girly movies, have a cocktail, sing... well, you get the point. Somewhere where the boys aren't allowed, unless I say so. Think of it as my Claire Room from the Cosby Show! I will definitely post some before and after pics of the small renovation. Also, the measurements have been taken for the closet. The upstairs is gonna be niiiii. I pick up the chaise toma. :-)

Back to the grill again in the a.m. I enjoyed my rest days and am excited to get that cardio counter UP.