Kaye, one of the mentors, and one of my good friends, has offered to sponsor me in the bridge run, which is really great in some ways... (I kind of liked having the excuse of not doing a 6.2 run/walk since I am definitely doing the 50-mile bike ride the next day - and the bike ride plan has been in the works a lot longer than the HCC...) but I don't have to run the bridge - I can 'leisurely' walk it in the back to get my muscles warmed up for the ride - AND it was very nice for Kaye and her husband to want to sponsor me :)

We did the bridge yesterday - and what that included for most was an 'indian run' up to the first span, an abs, arms, and leg work out at the first span, and then an indian run down. No, Aunt Lynn, the indian run doesn't have me singing indian chants while I run (though that idea was clever, and I may incorporate it next time), but it is the type of run where we all run single file and the last person sprints to the front while we are all still running. I was there plenty early to start with the others, but I chose to wait on some peeps and we walked up the bridge, completely unaware that an indian run was in the works and then made it to jump in and do abs work outs, etc.

Though my team mates may have been frustrated with me, this was actually better for me, because I am not supposed to run yet! Get mad at me, sure, whatever, but I have amped it up in every other aspect and am trying my best to protect my knee before I have a huge injury on my hands... I am a little frustrated with some of my team members and with my trainer - but I have struggled on whether I share that on this blog - I would much rather talk with people than type it out - sure, I've journaled about it - but this is different, because you are all reading my journal. So I just request thoughts and prayers this week as I try to work through this seemingly difficult time... I'm inclined to believe that this sort of drama is bound to happen with 8 women who are with each other all the time in a competition of sorts - I should know - I DID go to a Women's University.... (and I HATE drama!!! But you all probably know that anyway...)

Great Losses :)

I LOST 1.0 LBS this week - for a GRAND TOTAL OF 7.6 lbs in 4 weeks!!!! YAY!!!! More from me later - but I swam this morning with Jenelle (the rest of the team did water aerobics) and I swam for 45 minutes straight - which was exhausting - but amazing, because I haven't swam that much for that long in a very long time. Afterwards, Jenelle and I hit the steam room, which I love - so it rounded out my Friday morning nicely! I'm going to see my P.T. about my knee/hamstring combo on Monday, so I'm feeling good about that as well... Now to work on the thesis... :)

The Clean 15

So I just read an article I'd like to share with y'all... Most of you know how important it is to me to buy local - both local boutiques and produce. So, I'm a member of a CSA with Ambrose Farms on Johns Island (with friend Sarah H. and my parents). Well, on the off-season (January-March) when there is no CSA or farmer's market, it is harder to buy local, unless you head to some of the local markets on Johns Island (Stono Market & Rosebank Farms). Most of the CSAs are organic, our's is.

I just read an article about fruits/veggies and what it's okay to buy organic and not organic (since we can't all afford organic). If you choose to buy conventional produce, stick to the fruits and veggies with the lowest amounts of pesticide residue. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has dubbed this group "the Clean 15" and they are: onions, avocados, corn, pineapples, mangoes, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi fruits, cabbages, eggplants, papayas, watermelons, brocoli, tomatoes, and sweet potatoes. The EWG has also compiled a list of the 12 fruits and veggies with the most pesticide residue, which they've dubbed, 'the dirty dozen,' which = peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale (sad), lettuce, imported grapes, carrots, and pears (sad).

So, as I look at healthier choices for me, I thought you would also like this info :)

And if you must falter, be wise...

Yep, I took my 'title' from a song that is stuck in my head... it's my elliptical machine song... I'll give points to who answers what song it's from... no hints, except that it's a typical running song that I wouldn't listen to in my day to day life. But, about faltering, I was late AGAIN this morning! It turns out that I should take into account how tired I am after the significant change from working out once a day to twice a day - and maybe, I should also set BOTH of my alarm clocks - I do have 2 for a reason...

So I got 'punished' for being late... I did little of what the others did (Sarah had the team in pairs and they were doing cardio for 5 minutes and then weights for 5 mins - but I'm having knee trouble, so no dice for me, at least for the lunges). Sarah had me on the old spin bikes and every 2 minutes, I did a standing run for 1 minute - which is harder than it is in spin class, because these bikes don't have the resistence knobs, so it's just me controlling how fast/slow I go... my knee and me were NOT happy! Lots of icing after the workout this morning.

More sad news = I can't do Catherine's spinning class, unless I do it in addition to the 6am spinning class :( - which I'm pretty sure I shouldn't do right now with the knee/hamstring probs - just so you get the big picture, when Sarah told me this, I stuck my bottom lip out - and left it there to make my point :( (My Grandaddy told me when I do this, he can hang his clothes on my lip... I don't care - bottom lip out for the day.) I will say that I understand the importance of working out with the group, I do - but I work out with the group on EVERY day - what's one day without? AND I'm not asking to sit on my butt that day, I'm requesting a class with someone who pushes me to do my best... is that too much to ask??? But I'm going to get Catherine's schedule for spin classes in the area (other gyms) and see how I fare with those. It's not the absolute end of the world - I'm not trying to be a cry baby, it was just a disappointment, and apparently I decided to blog a whole paragraph on it :)

So, stay tuned for my blog either later tonight or tomorrow morning when I find out my results for the week - loss, gain, neutral? We will see. I feel really good about this week with the 2-a-day workouts and better food choices, but we will see.... ;)

Double workout!! :)

This morning I had spinning with Catherine - whom I love - and I'm sure you all get tired of me talking about this wonderful lady - but I really do enjoy her classes!! I want to take all of my spin classes with her - which may not be possible as of yet, but we will see... I'm going to somehow acquire her Charleston schedule - she teaches spin classes at a lot of gyms in the area :) What I love about her classes: (1) she takes the time to make sure those who are new are adjusted properly to the bike, (2) she goes over everything in the class as we're doing it - explaining what muscles we're working, how to do the different 'stuff' (jumps, sprints, etc.) and making sure we are all on the same page as we go through the motions, (3) she takes the time between each exercise to let us recover on a 'flat road' before we jump into the next exercise, and (4) her music selection, her attitude in class, and her kindness rocks my face off :)

This evening, I did a water aerobics class that Leslie taught. It was great to do after spinning this morning, because it loosened up my shoulders (which I tend to keep tense during spinning class - which is common, but you're supposed to avoid) and my hamstrings. My hamstring on my right leg is still tight from pulling it last week and it still hurts to touch it (huge bruise - which is now in the shape of the water bottle cage - crazy!). The only thing I didn't care for about tonight's class had less to do with the class itself and more to do with the fact that in order to not hurt my hamstring further, I put a lot of stress on my ankles, which hurt a little bit - this really is a balancing act, isn't it??? I think I need to swim laps vs. doing water aerobics - just for the time being...

Sarah has us on a new schedule, we can add to it our own exercises and work outs, but we need to do the ones she has scheduled together. Mon = cardio (and for me, an extra work-out in eve); Tues = 15-20 mins cardio, then abs workout with Sarah; Wed = spinning (plus extra workout for me in evening); Thurs = 15-20 mins cardio, then weights (?); Friday = water aerobics in a.m. (plus extra work out in evening); Sat = bridge training; Sun = required afternoon work out with all of HCC.

Okay, I need to go to bed, so I'm going to sign out - but thanks again EVERYONE for their continued support and love!!!

Looks like I'm behind again... Tuesday was great - or at least it ended great... Tuesday morning I was running late and got to the gym 10 minutes into everyone else's cardio - Sarah put me on the bike and wanted me to treat it like spin class and do jumps every minute - which wasn't really possible with this bike and that was frustrating - so I got moved to the stair master thingy (which STINKS) I definitely thought that I was going to fall off this thing at least 3 times in a 5 minute time period... but I didn't stay on this long either because my knee flared up almost immediately... then I was moved to the treadmill for a 3 min cool down - I think it's safe to say that I didn't get a great cardio warm-up.

Sarah then took us to the main studio where we did core training - lots of abs work with the big balls, along with squats and an arm workout. We have yet to do actual weights, I feel like - or maybe I have missed this when they have done it - but I personally want to amp it up with 2-3 weight sessions/week...

Tuesday was the first day that I went straight from the gym - showered, got ready, etc - to work... which I know a lot of people do, but I had grown to love my eggs florentine at the house - with extra veggies, goat cheese and a side of toast with coffee... I packed an after-workout snack that left a lot to be desired.

Tuesday wasn't a bad day per se, but I had a couple of rough starts, if you know what I mean... but THEN, my friends Barb & Reg had me over for dinner and they made a tasty meal!!! Lentil soup with brown rice and kale - yummy yummy kale :) They have been regularly following the blog and calling to see how I'm doing (as a bunch of my friends have), but I was really touched by the gesture to make dinner for me and to make sure it was something I could fully eat (which isn't neccesarily hard, but takes a little forethought). Anyway, shout out to Reg & Barb!! I love you both!! And shout out to Louisa for being a good supportive sister (that was random).

Someone's got a case of the Mondays?

This morning I did 45 minutes of elliptical in the cardio room - we were spread out this morning - apparently we were all in the cardio room, but we came in at different times and I didn't see everyone. I felt a little out of it this morning - maybe because it was early after a weekend of sleeping in, or maybe it's because I didn't work out yesterday, or maybe it's because I have a case of the Monday's - there's no telling!

So, I've decided to do '2-a-day' workouts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to balance out my week better - and maybe on Saturdays, too (a ride or 2?). Tonight I did Nia at MUSC - and I didn't feel well, which affected how much I wanted to participate, so I'd like to give it another chance, but I really liked Spirit Moves Nia better... that Saturday class is always rocking there... but this was interesting - tonight's Nia = Tai Chi, Yoga, and some martial arts 'dancing.' I really liked the leader - Amy? She was really nice - she really tried to engage the class, but everyone seemed as quiet & contemplative as I was.

I think with doing workouts twice a day, I'm going to need some more exercise clothes!!! And apparently I need a new pair of shoes - mine are too old - but the shoes, heart monitor, and pedometer all go on the list to buy when I have some 'free' cash post bills - ahhhh, the life of a grad student - I am ready to have this chapter behind me (the grad school life of no $). Today I felt a little aloof all day - not really fitting within my own body or skin - I still feel a little aloof - notice the scattered blog... or maybe this is a typical Monday on the HCC plan - I don't know, but I'm hoping for a better fit tomorrow :)