Shrinking Jill

Check out this great post from the Cooper Institute about the importance of daily activity vs. structured exercise.  This is a shout out to all you moms out there that spend hours running around after your toddlers and feel guilty because you don’t have time for the treadmill.

For those of us that spend the day tied to a desk, check out SqueezeItIn.com, a website with lots of ideas on how to get fit activity into your lifestyle without doing formal workouts.

Have a great Tuesday!

Hi everyone – many apologies for the very long absence – I have been traveling quite a bit for work and also trying to fit in my tri training – the result has been very little time for blogging.

Yesterday’s workout was a 3/4 mile open water swim at Lake Nummy (seriously, isn’t that the best name?!?) – this was part of a swim clinic designed to help beginner triathletes get used to swimming outside of a pool. I wore my brand-new wetsuit (a sleeveless X-Terra Volt) and completely rocked the workout, even after a 3 week absence from swimming.

Today I did my first real brick workout. A brick is 2 workouts done back to back, usually bike-run or swim-bike. The purpose is to get your body used to switching between activities. Tonight’s brick was a 15-mile bike ride on flat terrain followed by a brisk 3-mile walk. Although I’ve started running again (my hip has finally healed, yay!) I found it incredibly difficult to get my legs moving faster than a walk after a long ride. As a result, I’ve decided that I will plan to walk the entire 5K during the actual triathlon, and if I am able to jog parts of it that will just be a bonus.

The entire workout, including transition time from bike to walk, took about 2 hrs and 20 minutes. I can do the half-mile swim in about 25 minutes in the pool, but since we’ll be swimming in the river I’m anticipating a 35 minute swim time plus another 5 minutes in transition between swim and bike. That will put me at about 3 hours for the entire event and I have set this as my time to shoot for.

I’ll spend the next week continuing to work on my bike and swim. I really need more practice handling my bike because I put new tires on a week ago, and they are much thinner and smoother than the knobby tires I had before. As a result, the bike handles differently and I fell off it last week and ripped open my hand and elbow. It took awhile to pick out all the gravel and I’d prefer not to have a repeat of that scenario! Needless to say I have relegated myself to riding only in areas with no motorized traffic until my skills improve. But everyone has to start somewhere, right?

The week after next I will be traveling on business again (sigh) and won’t have easy access to a bike or lap pool. I’m going to do some research to see if I can rent a bike and also find a local gym that will let me use their pool. Don’t want to lose momentum 3 weeks before the big event!

I’m back from Japan – and the trip was amazing! However, we worked our butts off over there and I came back completely and utterly wiped out after getting very little sleep and then trying to readjust to the timezone change. I’m proud to say that despite having almost no choices in my daily food (lunch and dinner were provided for us each day and the menus were preset) I still managed to lose a little weight – the scale read 233.2 this morning! That’s a loss of 0.6 pounds from 2 weeks ago! The scale might not be moving quickly, but at least it’s moving.

I have one more week of travel this month – heading off on Saturday to visit my sister for the weekend then I’m off to another contractor site for all of next week. At least this time I’ll get to stay in the same time zone! I won’t be writing much til the next weigh in on July 7, but I will try to post a few pictures of my recent travels for you to enjoy.

I’m back from vacation and packing again for a business trip that starts on Friday – this time I’m off to Japan and can’t wait!  I’m hoping the food will be both amazing AND healthy, as well as allow me to keep of my weight loss over the past two weeks, because today’s weight is….drumroll please……

233.8!!!!!

Yeah!  I couldn’t be happier.  That’s a 2.8 pound loss from two weeks ago!

No weigh-in next week, of course, but if my schedule allows I’ll try to blog about Japan.  My goal is to hit 232 upon my return, which I think is a definite possibility.  Talk to you soon!

Today Ken and I are leaving for a 6-day trip to celebrate our 5th anniversary. Can’t wait! We’re going to London and Amsterdam and since there will most likely be lots of food, there will definitely be lots of walking. I’m hoping to pick up some fruit as soon as we land and have it on hand for snacks throughout the week. And I’ll be taking some cues from this article to navigate the friendly skies: Make Your Flying Calories Count

It’s likely that I won’t be posting too much over the next week – hope everyone has a great Memorial Day!

After reading this list, it’s no wonder to me how Americans got so hooked on candy bars – some of them were touted as health foods several decades ago: 10 Snack Foods Originally Sold as Medicines

Awhile ago I ran across an uber-cool website called Wordle.  This site allows you to enter a bunch of text, and then turns it into graphic art which you can customize.  I made one with words that describe where I’m trying to go with my life -click on the picture for a larger view:

OK – first order of business, this morning’s weight was: 236.6.  While certainly better than last week, I’ve got to say I’m a little disappointed!  I was down to 235.4 a few weeks ago and though I had a a few bad days between then and now overall I’ve been pretty good.  Perhaps the 235.4 was a fluke?  Oh well.

Next weigh-in will be on June 9th, and every other week after that for the month of June – I am traveling a lot this month!  First up is London and Amsterdam (cashed in some frequent flier miles for a 5-year anniversary trip with Ken!).  Then I have a couple of work trips later in the month.  I’m determined to finish out the month weighing 230 pounds or less despite the traveling, wish me luck!

FYI, I’ve started posting my weekly stats HERE.

I’m a little late with my semi-monthly 2010 goal check-in, but better late than never, right?  Here’s the latest update:

1. Complete a triathlon: Training is rocking along – I can now swim a mile in the pool and ride my bike for 15 miles.  Unfortunately, the running is not going too well.  Or at all, really, due to my hip problems.  However, I’ll at least be able to run intervals during the actual triathlon and if I can finish the entire even in 2.5 hours I’ll be pleased as punch!
2. Take a class in HTML or web design: I’ve got four chapters under my belt in my HTML book – fun stuff!
3. Develop a reasonable 2 to 4-year plan for transitioning out of my current career and into one that I love: Plans continue.  ‘Nuff said.
4. Bake a loaf of french bread from scratch: No change from last time.  But I still have 7 months of the year yet to go!
5. Write a magazine article (does not need to be published, just written): No magazine article yet but I have an idea about selling my triathlon training story to a magazine – perhaps to show that you can be obese and still participate in athletic events with pride?
6. Find a way to cook eggs that does not completely gross me out: To date I’ve tried the following egg dishes: quiche, scrambled and omelet.  Of the three the quiche was the best, but probably because cheese and pie crust were involved.  The scrambled eggs and omelet were both OK – the omelet perhaps a bit better because it contained cheese, peppers and ham – but honestly neither one rocked my world.  Eggs don’t really have much of a taste and the texture is kinda icky.  But I’ll continue my quest!  Suggestions for non-icky preparations are more than welcome…
7. Keep blogging: So far, so good.
8. Finish off the exercise room so I have a dedicated space for yoga, meditation and working out: The exercise room is 99% done and has been in use for 2 months! The mirrors are still in the corner waiting to be hung and I need a few pictures for the walls but otherwise everything is done.  Sadly, I’ve managed to completely neglect all the plants I bought and they are pretty much dead now.  I need hardier specimens – perhaps I’ll try to cultivate some of the weeds growing in the driveway – they clearly have what it takes to survive my black thumb and they might look cute in little pots.
9. Plant a small vegetable garden: The compost pile has been set up but I haven’t planted a thing.  However, last year’s chives and cilantro have resurrected themselves in the planters on the back deck, so that’s something, right?
10. Reduce spending and create a budget to allow for significantly more saving – in preparation for a career change: I really haven’t made much progress here, as I tend to substitute shopping for food.  Yes, yes, yes, I know this isn’t helping me change my habits – it just redirects them to another instantly gratifying activity.  I’m working on it.

Looking over my list, I realize that aside from my training, there hasn’t been much progress since the last check-in.  It would be nice to accomplish at least a few things on this list in 2010 so I’d better get moving!

Last Tuesday night I headed into town with some friends to attend a book signing.  One of my favorite authors, Jen Lancaster, just published her fifth book entitled My Fair Lazy and she was going to be in Philly to read an excerpt from her book and meet some fans.  My Fair Lazy is a memoir about her plans to stop watching reality TV (or at least cut way back) and start getting some culture into her life – something I can totally relate to because if left to my own devices I’ll spend the entire day watching Clean House and Hoarders without ever changing out of my pajamas.

Jen in person looks just like her book covers and has a very genuine way about her that I find easily relatable.  She read a passage from the book that I remembered enjoying and laughing about, and then answered questions from the large crowd.  Afterward everyone got in line for a chance to meet her and have her sign a book or two (or in the case of one woman dressed in head-to-toe fuschia, all five of Jen’s books.  Seriously ma’am, the pink metallic tote trimmed in feathers was just a bit over-the-top).

Jen’s writing is completely hilarious – I highly recommend checking out her blog – so I felt some pressure to be equally hilarious when I met her in person.  After reading all of her books as well as following her blog for a few years, I just knew that we were long-lost BFF soulmates.  If I could come up with a great opening line, it might lead to a short but unbelievably witty conversation that would end with her scribbling her phone number in my book alongside the words “Jill – so great meeting you in Philly!  Call me sometime! Your new BFF, Jen”

So while I was waiting in line to get my books signed, I tried to think of clever things to say:

1. Your Jenaissance took place in Chicago – did you ever feel the need to re-enact Ferris Bueller’s Day Off by visiting all of the cultural landmarks highlighted in that movie?
2. Did you know we were both born in November 1967?  That practically makes us twins!
3. Are those your real slippers?  (referring to the ones on the cover of her book)

Um, yeah.  I guess I don’t perform well under pressure because all of the above lines are  kinda pathetic – and those were the best of the bunch.  I could have just kept my mouth shut and graciously said “Thank you” after she signed my book, which is what most grown adults would do when faced with a situation where they just KNOW they are about to make a complete ass out of themselves.  Sadly, I am not a grown adult.  When I finally got to the front of the line I hoarsely whispered “You’re my idol” in her ear while she was signing my book, after which she shot me a sidelong glance of panic (seriously, I KNOW I sounded like a complete lunatic) before turning to the camera and flashing a winning smile.  I am eternally grateful that the photographer didn’t capture the look of fear on her face after I made my slightly creepy confession, but I think that’s the last book signing I’ll go to in a long time!

Fortunately it’s a cute photo

Last Tuesday night I met an idol and made an ass of myself.  This Tuesday night I think I’ll stay in and watch the Biggest Loser finale instead – at least the winner won’t be able to hear me when I shout “You’re my idol!!!!!” at the TV…

Last night I tried on my rental wetsuit!  Donning a wetsuit requires flexibility, stamina, patience and balance, none of which are my strong points, but fortunately, it was not quite as difficult as I’d originally expected.  And there was an added bonus – after it was zipped up I felt a little like Catwoman (note to self, rent a wetsuit this Halloween).

Oops, I’m getting ahead of myself.  I laid the suit out on the living room floor and assessed my opponent:

The quarter-inch thick neoprene looked pretty sturdy and I stopped worrying about putting a fingernail through it during the upcoming wrestling match (but I trimmed my nails really short ahead of time anyway).  I held it up against myself and realized the legs were probably four inches too long (geez, was this thing made by Lane Bryant?).  But all in all it didn’t look too scary.

Several wetsuit experts suggested that I slather myself with BodyGlide before trying to wriggle into what was essentially a ShrinkingJill-sized neoprene sausage casing, but as I didn’t really want to shower again today I decided to try it sans-lube.  NOTE: For the curious among you, BodyGlide is not a sexual aid, but rather a non-greasy skin lubricant designed to reduce chafing on long runs/rides/walks/whatever as well as help get on tight things like wetsuits.  I went through an entire stick of it training for the 3-day last summer.  It’s good stuff.

Anyway, on to the main event.  Off to a good start – right foot in the right leg:

Um, Jill?  You just put your left foot into the left sleeve…

OK – legs done…now how do I get my arms in the sleeves???

Trapped!

Finally got it on and zipped up, woohoo!  Threw on my swim cap and goggles for the full effect:

The suit was actually really comfortable and I skipped around the house for a little while enjoying the feeling of being completely encased in neoprene.  It wasn’t so tight that I couldn’t breathe, but it did kind of feel like wearing full-body Spanx.  Seriously, I am SO going as Catwoman for Halloween this year!  I was amazed that it fit so well – other than having to roll up the legs a little bit, this thing felt like it was custom-made for my body.  Who knew a wetsuit could be so much fun?

I rented the suit to wear during an open water swim clinic on Wednesday night – the water in Pennsylvania isn’t exactly warm this time of year and I don’t relish the idea of spending two hours in a freezing cold lake.  Plus I might wear a wetsuit for the triathlon so this will be good practice to see whether I can actually swim in this thing or not!  After the clinic I’ll post an update on what I learned.

I’d like to send a shout out to the awesome folks at WetsuitRental.com – quick shipping, great customer service and very reasonable prices!  If you’re in the market for a wetsuit please stop by their website – if they we able to fit me, they can fit anyone!!!