150 Lunges? Challenge Accepted.

Let me tell you a little bit about my thighs... or what I like to call my trouble area. Even when I got down to my lowest weight this past Spring, my thighs still remained quite thick compared to the rest of my body. My thunder thighs, tree trunks, soccer legs-- they've stored extra body fat, including that of which was supposed to be distributed to my chest, ever since I hit puberty. They're very muscular, too, and no matter how much I work out I feel that I continue to gain muscle in them rather than slim them down. I swear to you I could do lunges everyday and those thighs would still remain the same size-- or would they? I really couldn't tell you because I loathe lunges. I mean loathe. I cannot tell you why, but anytime they're a part of my workout routine I absolutely dread getting into that lunge position. The worst, ugh. 

Anyways, I'm sure many of you have saw the 'Squats Challenge' that has been circulating Facebook and the rest of the internet, and as I'm trying to jazz up my exercise routine, I debated taking it on-- mostly because I'm curious of the results. Then I thought of my trouble area. Why not actually do lunges everyday and see for myself if I'm able to slim those bad boys down?! Maybe I'll even learn to love the lunge? After all, I used to hate running and we all see how that turned out for me, so it's worth a shot! Well, sure enough there is a "Lunges Challenge" out there, and it starts you off with 20 on the first day, and ends with 150 on the last. Ouch. I am pretty excited to see this thing through though, as I'm hoping the results will be quite noticeable. I'd love to walk away from this challenge with slimmer, toned thighs-- so let's see what happens.

ETA:

•  You can split up your lunges throughout the day (ex. 50 in the morning; 50 at night)
• 1 lunge = 1 lunge with the right leg AND 1 lunge with the left leg

I will be doing this Lunge Challenge in addition to continuing to eat healthy, cardio 4-5 days a week, and picking back up on yoga. Over the past month I really started slacking when it came to diet and exercise. I never really knew the truth to stress eating until recently, and due to my crazy weekends and schedule overall, I was unable to participate in my planned half marathon (which was supposed to be this past weekend, but I had Kristi's bridal shower to attend). That being said, my training is at a temporary hault, although I'm debating starting up again and just not participating in a race at the end of it, just because I am much more accountable for my workouts when I have a schedule to follow (thus the above challenge). I haven't done yoga in awhile, which is a shame because I was really seeing great results in the toning of my body-- especially in my stomach. So I am making a vow to do yoga at least once a week starting today. Done. And I also completed Day 1 of the Lunge Challenge. 

Today was a very motivated Monday for me; I'm ready to get out of this fitness funk and tone back up! So join me in this challenge if you wish, we can help each other be accountable and say goodbye to our thunder thighs together! Or you can just wait until I'm done to see if 150 lunges are really worth it. ;)
Results to come in 30 days! Thank you for reading and wish me luck on getting through this challenge alive. Alive and with thinner thighs. ;) And good luck to anyone joining me!

xo D

Half-Marathon Training for the Non-Runner

My current half-marathon training plan

Being that I just got done with one of my training runs, I found it only fitting to post about half-marathon training for this week's Motivational Monday post.

Let me begin by saying that I hated running prior to just last year. On my high school soccer team, the least favorite part of my day was when coach said we had to run laps or sprints. The. Worst. Outside of soccer practice I would run anyways though, just to condition my body and frankly, because it was the only way I knew how to work out. When I'd go to the gym I'd just look for the nearest treadmill. It's all I knew. And to be honest, that's what led me to training for my first half. Someone once told me that running was the best exercise because it worked every muscle of your body, and that just stuck with me. And now that I'm technically a "runner" (still feels weird to say), I couldn't agree more.

In Spring 2012 when I decided to get healthy and lose weight (yes, it is a decision-- you want to lose that gut? Want to make a lifestyle change? Make that decision. Nobody else can do it for you.), I started running. I jumped on the treadmill and don't even think I ran a full mile... at 5 mph-- if that. I felt terrible about myself. How did I let myself get so out of shape?! I didn't let my sweaty, crying, about-to-pass-out inner voice stop me though. Everyone has to start somewhere. And so I continued to run, and as someone who likes to set goals, I decided to train for a 10k. And so I did. And I'll never forget running that race and looking at the half-marathoners with such admiration-- and slight concern, for they had to be somewhat crazy to run 13.1 miles. Say what?! I had just got done running less than half of that and was ready to faint, there is no way in hell. Shortly after, I decided to run a half-marathon.

So the half-marathon training began in the early weeks of January. This meant treadmill workouts for the most part, until I hit the 7-8 mile longer runs and I just had to take my runs outside. And then there were the long runs outside, in the cold, bitter, Michigan winter. Ice formed around my water bottle, puddles from the snow seeped through my layers of socks, the trails flooded, my legs felt like they were going to give out-- but I never stopped, not once. I got through training and ultimately ran the half-marathon-- in my goal time, I might add, and it couldn't have been too bad because now I'm training for a second in September. So here's the wisdom I can share for those of you who aren't natural-born runners who "love" to run and just can't wait to log in your miles for the day.

• Follow a training plan

I've posted two, the Beginner's one I followed the first-time around (below) and the one I'm following now (at the beginning of this post). Following a plan made all the difference for me. I felt obligated to log in my weekly miles and complete whatever task was on my agenda for the day. I did not follow my plan to a tee (i.e. resting every Monday, easy runs every Sunday, etc.), but I did make sure I accounted for each run; I just made it work for my schedule. If I had plans on Saturday, I'd do my long run on Sunday. If I wanted to get one of my runs out of the way on Monday, I'd use another day as my rest day. Cater the plan to work for you.

• Start small

Don't overwhelm yourself and try to run 10 miles right away if you haven't run 2 miles in over a year. Gradually work your way up to that golden number, whether it be 26.2 or 3.1.

• Listen to your favorite tunes

I created a running playlist composed of up-tempo, fast-paced songs that get me hype. This made my run so much more enjoyable and it always seemed that perfect song that really pushed me to run just a little faster would come on right when I needed it to.

• Watch your favorite shows

This is what I'd do during my longer treadmill runs. I'd go in the morning and put on One Tree Hill or a good movie and just focus on that. I would get so wrapped up in the story line that my run would be over before I knew it.

• Focus on how far you've come

This is true in life and also in running. Rather than dwelling on the fact that you still have 5 miles left of your 7-mile-run, focus on how easy those 2 miles you just ran were, and that you only have to do that two and a half more times. It's all a mind-game-- win it!

•  Be one with your thoughts

Some of my best therapeutic sessions have been done during my runs. Think about it, it's honestly the perfect opportunity to be alone with your thoughts and get some rational thinking in. Take the focus off the run and onto yourself. Talk yourself through problems or dilemmas in your life and you'll be surprised at both how great you feel once you're done and how quick your run went by.

• Reward yourself

This is the one that really motivated my inner fat girl. Once I got further into my training and was logging 8 and 10-mile runs, I'd think about how many calories I was burning (about 700-900) and think of how I could replenish my body of those nutrients it was certainly missing out on. A donut? Ice cream and cake? Ten things off the Taco Bell menu? All of the above? OK! Picture someone dangling cheese from a fishing pole... I was chasing it. Half the time I'd get home and feel so healthy and good about myself I'd whip up a smoothie instead, but it was the point that I could indulge in those treats without the guilt-- and I usually would on my designated cheat day. ;)

I hope these little tips come to be of assistance if you decide to train for a race of any length. I'm sure I can think of more, and I will most certainly add on to this list when I do, but for now it's 9 pm and Shark Week so I must be on my way. Thank you for reading. :)
xox D

Introducing... Motivational Mondays!

Ok, so long story short: I took a train to Chicago Monday night for a conference, got there late, had to wake up early, and this went on until I got back late Thursday night. It was educational, and fun, and super exhausting. Then, I drove to the east-side Friday morning to spend the day with one of my best friends before she flew back to Louisiana on Saturday. This entailed a day of bridesmaids dress shopping and a night of fun... and not much sleep or exercise. I headed back home on Saturday evening, and am still recovering from my crazy week. Then to top it off, I am now suffering from a UTI. Lucky me!

So why am I telling you all this? Well I'm behind on my half-marathon training schedule and I didn't want to skip another day of working out, but I really, really did not feel like doing anything even remotely productive once I got home from a busy day of work. I needed some motivation. And somehow, I dug deep down and found it. It helped that I have a cross-training day where I can do my Yoga DVD (I have Bethenny Frankel's SkinnyGirl workout collection and I love it). 

So I bring to you Motivational Mondays! I will post every Monday with something to push you, whether it be a fitness routine or an inspirational quote or a personal goal. Perhaps it will provide you with that extra motivation you need to accomplish what you should do or know you need to do, but just don't want to.

I can certainly tell you that although I didn't want to do my workout today, it felt great afterwards-- and even a little bit during. ;) There's something about the stretching and mastering some of the tougher poses that boosts those endorphins. 

The poses below were part of my workout today, and Kristin actually appears in the Body by Bethenny DVD. Hold each pose for five counts until you get more comfortable and can hold them longer. Yoga truly improves your balance and gives you a sense of accomplishment once you finish. And I don't know about a "Butt like Bethenny", but I've definitely noticed more definition and toning in certain areas since I've started practicing Yoga.

Perhaps a butt like Bethenny is your motivation, for me it's a hot bod like Jen's: 

 

to look good in this...

Whatever it may be, we all need a little motivation sometimes. So why not start your week off the right way by taking one step closer to becoming a better you. :)

xox Danielle