Show Stoppin & Goal Watchin

"Week four, I'm coming for you.." she said as she walked Shaft-like out the gym like a car had exploded behind her.

If only I'd had on a leather trench coat and shades.

Show Stopping
I completed W3D5 today. And I must admit, it didn't hurt. My shin splint started to whisper, but I was actually feeling QUITE comfy during the 3-minute interval and I even ran the last two minutes of the 20, when I normally run 90 seconds as suggested and walk for the last 30 then I stretch. Today I ran the time out and then did a semi-brisk 3-minute walk of my 5 minute cool down. I spent another song length stretching... "Sexy Can I!?"

I've finished my first liter of water and had a filling breakfast. I took my Pers' advice and had a banana before my workout and an apple nearly immediately after and then ate a 100-calorie (really 110 cals) whole wheat bagel with some honey nut cream cheese. Then I logged my food. I originally made two bagels. After the first I "no longer felt hungry" but this time in traditional NON-me fashion, I didn't eat till I felt STUFFED. I felt satisfied with the one, so I put the other in a snack baggie in the fridge. I am SO proud of myself. I can have it later, in a couple hours, if I choose as my mid-morning snack. Tho, I think I will go with a peanut butter slice.

Given how this morning worked out, I think I will round off this week with Thursday and Saturday as my extended days 6 and 7 and then finally move on to week 4 on Monday. Hoo-ah!?

Week 4, in sure to — in short — will be a DOOZY.. longer runs that can last up until 5 minutes and less walk time overall. So that's gonna be new territory. I plan to stick to that week for about 2-3 weeks as well depending on how I feel. Conditioning, conditioning, conditioning, remember? I gotta do it...

Turns out my scheduled 5K in November (I was originally debating about October or even September) is the perfect time to run a 5K for me. Because, even though I'll be done with the weekly training way before then by standard week-by-week but with me spending more time on weeks I will be less likely to fail because I'm conditioned properly. And I'll still get some time to check out the 5K training program on the treadmill (so curious about what that's like) and even running outdoors (because as we all know the experiences are vastly different).

So, time to wrap up week three and move further in my journey because I felt really good this a.m. My shin splint didn't complain much at all.. so I'd venture to say the conditioning and taking my TIME is paying off and my calves and shins are getting more stronger.

I have been really upping my cardio and activity in various ways as to not get bored. Currently the bulk of my strength training is coming from boxing and push ups for the arms/upper body, and squats/lunges for lower body. My cardio has been consisting of C25K training, walking, elliptical trainer and Turbo Jam. In fact, later this evening I have a 3.8-mile evening walk.

Goal Watchin
As part of my goals I am really trying to beef up my daily activity and do it consistently for 5-6 days of the week. I want to get in at least 90 minutes of activity a day. With 30 minutes in the morning this should be an easier task than it sounds.

I'm also trying to track my food consistently and eat b/t 1200-1350 calories a day. My SP caloric range goes up to 1550 (I think) daily, but I'm never trying to eat that high. I think it's seriously putting a damper on my progress and eating more calories on my "heavier workout days" as often recommended in many books I read is doing nothing but making me heavier on those days. So I'm just gonna keep taking my vitamins and eat best for you foods of fresh produce leeeean proteins and whole grains. Try to stay away from the packaged stuff etc. and see where that puts me in a month.

As apart of one of the challenges I'm in it's time to measure soon, so it will be VERY interesting to see what I've done and what I NEED to do to get it done if I haven't done enough. Seen?

Off to clean the house... speak soon. I hope you're grabbing like by the horns and enjoying an active ride.

Pictured:
1. Check out the intervals in Weeks 4 and 5
2. My free T-shirt from my Y for completing 15 workouts... 1 mo to go!