Day 108.

Weight: 124.60

So today I decided to take a move forward for The Fittest Fat Girl blog and eventually shift the blog into a new direction that is more interactive/social media friendly. And that shift was moving toward Tumblr. I will still be posting new updates to here and the new Tumblr blog - http://fittestfatgirl.tumblr.com/ - for those who still chose to follow me here and for those who chose to follow on Tumblr. 

I recommend following over there or RSS subscribe since will be posting a lot of pictorial inspirations, health and fitness articles / fodder there due to the ease of posting and sharing articles within that format. I wanted to create a blog not only to share my story but to share information as well - and the new format there makes it so much easier to update on a regular basis.

I am looking forward to continue to share my progress on here and there! :) I felt as I change and improve that the FFG blog needed to do so as well. I hope you enjoy the posts to come!

Thanks everyone for being so supportive!

Day 107.

Weight: 124.60

Today's Workout:  

• Treadmill: 43:11 minute - 3.1 mile run.  331 calories

• Zumba: 630-8p - 1 hour.   516 calories

Total Calories Burn - 847 calories

It's the final countdown. It is the week of the race and its closing in fast. So today I did it. I actually ran a "5k" at the gym this morning. I was determined to 'hold' on my strength training routine and focus on running and preparing for saturday's race. I knew that I needed to push myself past the 2 mile marker so that I could know how to mentally prepare myself and also to see how my body is going to react with that extra mile. 

And doing that would require that I hold on everything else and focus on 'running only' this morning. So that is exactly what I did! I was a bit nervous about my noob-self attempting to run the full 3 miles, especially right before going into work, but it was a risk I was willing to take. It needed to be done and I did it!  Granted it was at a much slower pace than I have normally been running my mile each morning. I planned on running really slow so I could test my stamina and mental focus. 

I also put into practice some advice from a post Julie had commented on the FFG FB Wall regarding my daily runs in preparation for this race - she had said to walk for 3 mins in between each mile. So I tried this piece of advice and it did help, especially in between mile 2 and 3.  I think for race day, I will possibly skip the 'walk' between mile 1 and 2. I usually do not have any problems running the full 2 miles. Its the point after mile 2 that I start to play mind games with myself. I think walking for 3 minutes between mile 2 and 3 on race day will break it up and the active recovery will keep me focused on the final jaunt ahead and yet help me keep good time. Not that I plan on trying to 'place' during race day, its just that I have made a personal goal to complete the race within the 30-35 minute mark.

I have realized that with all this timing, I will need to get a cheap little fit band watch so I can keep time and track my pace between miles. 

I've already planned my race day breakfast - oatmeal + banana. However, I know I will need to get up extra extra early to eat as I do not perform well at all with food on my stomach. I figure if I eat at least 2-3 hours before the race, I should be okay.

After I finished running this morning, I am feeling less nervous, more confident and super excited about Saturday. I have been thinking about how far I have come. If someone had told me this time last year that I would be running in a 5k I would have hysterically wheezy laughed in their face and said, "yeah right! no way would I ever run a 5k! that is just insane". And not just a few months ago, I was daydreaming about trying to run and how to get started. And here I am now, actually running a mile daily and doing pre-race practice runs. It's insane at the progress I have made in such a short span of time. It seems so surreal.

But I like it. A lot. And I don't want to turn back, ever!

Needless to say, I am ready for race day to hurry up and get here! I guess I currently have "runners high"! :)

Day 105.

Weight: N/A
I managed to get a workout in while out on the road. I did my workout routine at Fitness Depot in Collins, MS.

Today's Workout:  

• 10 minute warm-up: elliptical  Level 8.
• Strength Training – Lift to Burn Program: 55 mins
• Treadmill - Running: 12:30 mins  5mph  1 mile    (broke my personal time/distance record)

Shoulders
• Arnold Press: 3 sets of 8 @ 5 lbs 

• Barbell Upright: 3 sets of 8 @ 25lbs

• Dumbbell Lateral Raise: 4 sets of 15 @ 5lbs
• Machine Laterals: 3 sets of 10 @ 30lbs

• Incline Laterals: 3 sets of 8 @ 5 lbs

• Front Laterals: 3 sets of 8 @ 5lbs

• Close-grip Lateral: 4 sets of 8 @ 40lbs

• Wide-grip Lateral: 4 sets of 8 @ 25lbs

I'm not sure how I was able to run, much less beat my own personal time / distance record since my legs were locked up tighter than alcatraz... needless to say that Friday's leg workout was killer.

Great possibilities - I very well may be teaching zumba classes on a regular basis at the Fitness Depot after certification on October 22nd. I am very excited about this possible opportunity and am hoping that everything works out for the best. *fingers crossed*

Hello C's

went shopping today and needless to say it was emotional + record breaking!
I have transitioned in bra sizes from a full 'cup runneth over' 40D to a perfect 38 C!
[insert giddy scream here]  I am now in a C cup! I have not been in a C cup since 6th-7th grade of middle school!

I nearly broke down and screamed for joy while in the dressing room. Of course, I refrained from screaming since that would have been totally awkward. However I did shed several tears of happiness for this major transition!

I have definitely been able to tell that my back has noticed much relief and that I no longer have to take pain medication for all the serious back pain caused by 'thelma + louise'. :) Another joyous gift that I have received from this journey.

Needless to say, I happily purchased several cute bras... goodbye granny bras, hello sassy C's!!!

And speaking of gifts, my sweet, wonderful and supportive D purchased me an awesome gift tonight.
He got me this awesome shirt:

Isn't this the total truth!!! I love it! I can hardly wait to wear it in the gym this coming week!

Thanks D! I love you! And thank you for continually supporting + motivating me! I wouldn't be this far without you pushing me forward. Thank you so much for being my coach!

Day 104.

Weight: 124.40

Today's Workout:
Arrived: 530a   /   Departure: 745a

• 10 minute warm-up: elliptical  Level 8.  2.25miles  85 calories
• Strength Training – Lift to Burn Program: 55 mins  156 calories
• StairMaster: 20 mins  Level 8  100 Floors   215 calories 

Hip Adductors

Total Calories Burn - 456 calories  

Legs
• Hip Abductors

Inner: 3 sets of 10 @ 90 lbs. / 1 set of 8 @ 70lbs burn-out

Outer: 3 sets of 10 @ 105 lbs.

• Hip Extensions

3 sets of 10 @ 75 lbs.

• Weighted Squats: 3 sets of 10 @ 20 lbs

• Stiff-legged Deadlift: 2 sets of 25 @ 10 lbs

• Weighted Calf Raises: 3 sets of 10 @ 10 lbs each

• Seated Calf Raises: 3 sets of 10 @ 20 lbs

• Leg Curls: 3 sets of 10 @ 60 lbs

• Leg Extensions: 3 sets of 10 @ 60 lbs

• Leg Press: 3 sets of 10 @ 80 lbs

Needless to say after this workout = Dead Legs.

Day 103.

 

Weight: 125.6

I wish that was what my stomach looked like...  :)  perhaps one day... 

Today was abdominal day. Always such the treat since I hate working out abs. However I can tell I am getting stronger since I was able to bump up the weight and add in a new move vs. last week. Much improvement that I am happy about. Maybe a toned stomach isn't just a pipe dream after all...

Today's Workout:
Arrived: 530a   /   Departure: 745a

• 10 minute warm-up: elliptical  Level 8.  2.15miles  85 calories
• Strength Training – Lift to Burn Program: 40 mins  114 calories
• Treadmill - Running: 14 mins  4.3mph  1 mile   100 calories 

• Zumba   630p-8p  :   516 calories

Total Calories Burn - 843 calories 

Abdominals
• Swiss Ball Crunch: 3 sets of 15

• Weighted Bosu Twist: 2 sets of 10 @ 5 lbs

• Rope Cable Crunch: 3 sets of 20 @ 30lbs  / 1 set of 20 @ 40lbs burn out
• Oblique Twist: 4 sets of 10 @ 50lbs
• Hanging Leg Raise: 4 sets of 10 @ body weight

 

I'm debating on whether to rest tomorrow or go in and workout the legs. This weekend I will be traveling again. I will be working out in a gym over the weekend. So I will be doing Shoulders on Saturday. I'm just trying to decide whether if I should rest up taking tomorrow off, if I do, that means I will have to do both Shoulders and Legs in the same day. Talk about whooped!  Anyway, I guess the morning alarm and my body will tell me what to do.... I'll just go with it...

 

 

Day 102.

Weight: 125.80

This morning was much better – mentally – for the most part. I got up at 445a, a bit slow paced of course, but I made my way over to the gym. Once I got to the gym it was game on... I went into my routine like business as usual and turned out a really good workout with enough time to spare for a 2 mile run.

I think I am getting better at running. This mornings run was breezy, I just paced myself, set my own cruise control and away I went. Before I knew it, I was at 2 miles... this makes me happy since next weekend is the race – my first 5k – and I am nervous about being able to run it. But I am feeling more confident that it should be no problem especially after seeing that 2 miles this morning came with more ease.  Of course I say this now and have yet attempted to run that final mile.   I am making it my goal this week to up the ante from running 1 mile everyday to 2 miles every day until race day. Somewhere in that mix, I am going to try to throw in that final mile.  I think having a new super short term goal to focus on this week will get me out of my mental funk.   Let's hope so!

Today's Workout:
Arrived: 525a   /   Departure: 750a
Zumba : 600p  /  700p

Total Calories Burned: 1000

• 11 minute warm-up: elliptical  Level 8.  2.53miles  94 calories
• Strength Training – Lift to Burn Program: 55 mins  156 calories
• Treadmill - Running: 28:20 mins  4.3mph  2 miles   227 calories  
• Zumba - 1 hour   516 calories 

Chest –
• Chest Press: 3 sets of 15 @ 30lbs
• Incline Dumbbell Press: 3 sets of 15 @ 10lbs
• Incline Dumbbell Flyes: 3 sets of 20 @ 10 lbs

Triceps –
• Tricep Bench Dips: 3 sets of 15 @ (body weight)
• Tricep Kick Backs: 1 sets of 10 @ 10lbs / 2 sets of 20 @ 7.5 lbs - to burn-out
• Overhead Tricep Extension: 3 sets of 20 @ 5lbs


On another note - a great yet slightly irritating problem - getting dressed this morning totally set me on edge and nearly put me late for work. It is getting more apparent that I will need to go shopping soon as each day, getting dressed for work keeps becoming a huge ordeal. Todays issue was a Belt. I decided to wear a 'new to me' dress from the consignment store that a few weeks ago was quite snug and slightly difficult to zip up, is now very loose and baggy. I've been cinching up all my shirts + dresses with belts. Its been the easy quick fix solution to the oversized/transition clothing problem. Each day I cycle through yet another belt from my basket that no longer fits. I've had to do 'surgery' on all my belts punching new holes. This morning - practically all of my belts are at maximum hole punch capacity and can no longer go any further. And now my fave belt - an 'old faithful' is now no longer appropriate to wear. Nooo! I think that realizing my most fave belt + wardrobe staple no longer fits sent me over the edge...of mixed emotion - a happy sadness. If that is even possible. SOB!  I am literally down to hardly any belts...what am I going to do now?!  My quick solution to 'taking in' way too big clothing is now practically non-existant! 


I guess this means that I will have to go shopping now. poop. I'm not ready to deal with that just yet. :P  I know its a great problem to have! absolutely! But oh... shopping.. I'm not ready to make that leap yet not when I have more road to travel on this journey... Maybe this weekend, I can go back to the consignment, outlet + thrift stores and find some more super cheap transition items + belts. *fingers crossed*


Despite it all... I am grateful for my new set of 'problems'... as these are good 'problems' to have... and focusing on that is helping me out of my slump...