Self-Indulgent Pre Race Pics

   I may lose a few followers with this post, but Race Outfit photo shoots have kind of become a ritual for me.   It helps me relax a little and feel confident, especially when I see my buff leg muscles :D

What I'm wearing for my indoor track race tomorrow night:

Not quite EMZ Abs

Just call me the Speeding Zebra

Happy,  Chris K. Manly?

   All kidding aside, tomorrow's outfit is kinda boring:

Gray tank; Blue Spandy Shorts

It's weird running a track race without having a team singlet to wear.

I meant to look like I was running, Not like I'm in a marching band :)

Racing Muskles

Garmin came yesterday!

Mood Busted

       Yayy it's Friday and my usual Friday workout is just what I needed today.  Can you guess. . .

STAIRS

If you are new here you can read about my stair running obsession here.

      Today I did something extra while I was up at the school for my workout (I use a local college staircase).  Something that made me smile and hopefully will make others smile.

I stumbled upon the Operation Beautiful Site a while ago and thought it was pretty darn amazing.   

So today I did a little of this:

Pre Workout

Post Workout: Checking out how it was holding up :D

   I remember how low my self esteem was my first two years of college so I figured it was the perfect place for this little message :)  I think I'm gonna continue posting these awesome notes, it made me very happy (especially to think it might make some one else feel good when they see it) :D

  After my stairs I did an easy cool down jog of 2.5 miles, outside which was very nice. A bit cold still but the sun was shining and I ran sans music.  I definitely needed some sun and some fresh air.

   And the best news of all, my best friend is coming over tomorrow and staying through Sunday!  Sunday is supposed to be in the 40's so we may head to a local track and throw down some killer 400s ;)  

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL :D

Running Around NYC in a TuTu

     It's been a busy few days.

     Tonight I'm staying in, we had our fun last night.  My MIL offered to watched the boy and we went to a midnight concert in NYC.  We took a 9:10 PM train in and a 5:10 train coming home, pulled into our driveway at 6:45 this morning and dragged our sorry booties straight into bed till 1-ish.  Then it was off to get the boy and tonight it's some family time.

What I wore:

 Sorry for the sideways pics.

Shirt: Gilly Hicks

Skirt: Free People

Belt: Old Navy  

 Blue/purple-ish Tights: Target Girl's Section

       I'm ready to get back on schedule,  I thought I was, but the past few days have thrown me for a loop.  I haven't read or commented on many blogs this week and I need to catch up.   On a good note, although I don't have my bike yet, my Dad bought me a spin bike from Sport's Authority.  He just put it together tonight and I am definitely hopping on it tomorrow!!

      Giveaway ends tonight at 12 tonight and I will announce winners tomorrow at some point (probably later-ish)

     Everyone have a wonderful New Years,  regular and more substantial posting will resume this week and I am looking forward to catching up on what everyone has been doing :D

Race Attire Preview

Here is what I am most likely wearing if Matt will let me out of the house in it, I was inspired to go a little over the top by my co-workers (below).  Well actually, I've planned to wear these socks for a week now. . . if it is too cold for my shorts, I'll wear them over tights.  

Run For the Bikini. . .or the Thanksgiving wine :D

Obviously, I missed my calling as a model :P

Non-blurry face, I'm attractive!

Ok I had wayyy too much fun taking pics, for everyone's sake the rest are under the cut:

Pretend Surfing? or Fly Like a G6 ;)

No Clueee

Keep Running

I swear I'm not as in love w/ myself as it seems, quite the opposite actually.   Not that being in love w/ (or at least loving)yourself  is a bad thing, I wish I was, I'd have a lot more confidence.  I do like what my running and workouts are doing for my body though :D

Most of this little photo shoot-y was done to music (which maybe? explains some of my sick moves, dancing makes me veryyyy happy!)  Love this song:

Internet Killed the Video Star

I'm also pysched! for my race if you couldn't tell :)

End of Week #6 Stats-

Another week of maintaining my weight, but I also took measurements this week and I lost a bit from my waist :) and a bit from my hips :(  I am going to try for that last few lbs of weight lose over the next month, only around 3-4 lbs.   Then I will completely focus on training to get stronger and faster!  I took some bikini progress pics today and I am mostly happy with what I see.   My main complaint is I'm holding extra fat on my lower back/ love handle area, which is why I still want to drop a few lbs of excess fat.  Also my arms and especially the back of my arms still need a lot of work (which I am doing right now),  I hope to lose a little fat from that area and put on some muscle.

                       Height   ~ 5'4"
                     Starting  ~ 125.5

                 Last Week   ~ 122.5

                      Current  ~ 122.5   

                         Goal   ~ 116-118

                          First Week     Last Week     This Week

              Waist ~      27 in             25.75 in        25.5 in

                Hips ~      36 in             36 in            35.5 in 

              Thigh ~  20.75 in          20.5 in            20.5 in 

The 100 push-up program is going well and you can see my updated progress under the fitness goals page, I'm finishing week one and have already improved my max by a few.  I'm going to tape my push-ups again to make sure I am going low enough.

Progress Pics:

The rest are under the cut:

Bikini Body Move #2 - The Plank

 If you're looking for flatter abs The Plank is absolutely the best exercise for you.  To perform a plank  assume push-up position with your elbows bent, forearms extended on the floor. Your body should form a straight line and you should be contracting your ab muscles to stabilize your core.  Hold for as long as you can, try for 30 seconds and work your way up to 2 minutes or more.

(Taking pictures is a good way to fix your form too, in this pic I realized my elbows should be slightly more aligned with my shoulders.)

Demonstration video below:

                                                                

                                 

 I am confident that if you do 2-4 planks everyday (or at least most days) you will see a difference in your stomach (they only take a few mins. a day).   I can honestly say that even pre-pregnancy I never used to wear bikinis.  I hated my stomach.  Now since I started doing planks 2 years ago I wear them all the time, they gave my stomach such a toned, flat look and some nice definition :D.  Do realize though that planks won't get rid if excess fat, if you're looking to lose fat off your stomach your best bet is reducing your calorie intake, along with a daily cardio routine. 

 I've been doing my planks on and off all summer, but I finally got serious this week and have started doing them every night again.  I am very excited to see the results in a few weeks!  As per my usual advice some great music will help you hold your planks longer, I know it helps me big time :)

Here's a video as well, preferably don't toss your hair around idk what I was doing:

Friday's Workout

Today I did my favorite workout, running stairs :D.  I do this at the college down the street from my house, there is a staircase that is rarely used (secret I learned while I was on the crew team there).  I  try to do it between Fri.-Sun. when there is less undergrad traffic.  I have been running stairs routinely for 3 yrs now and it is absolutely the best for your backside . . .

proof?

I am actually very self-conscious about most of my body, but I do appreciate my booty :)

Back to the workout, the staircase has 4.5 flights and 90ish steps.  I alternate between taking every stair and every other.  So I usually do my first set taking every step all the way up, then when I go up the next time I take  two steps at a time.  I did it for 20 mins. today which is how long I usually go for.  I go all out most of the time so by the end of 20 min I'm dead.

My playlist (which is an absolute must for me when i'm doing this, if my ipod is dead I won't even think about doing stairs till it's charged) for today was Fallout Boy ~ Folie a Deux Album.  Awesome, awesome workout music!

I always feel so great for the rest of the day after this workout, I try to do it at least once a week.  Between working up a good sweat and blasting my favorite music it is like free therapy!!

Starting Stats

 I did my first official weigh-in this morning here are the results:

             Height ~ 5'4"
Current weight ~ 125.5
    Goal weight ~ 116-118

So as I've mentioned, I only have 5-10 lbs to lose but  most people know that those are the hardest!  I tend to gain/lose in my stomach area so for me those last few pounds define my waist and flatten my belly, who doesn't want that :)

I took some Before pics today, they're not great quality cause I took them with Photo Booth but PB is just so much easier than a camera.  I don't look too bad but there is definitely room for improvement. . .

    

                                            

Goal-ish

ETA: Those coming upon this post now, goals change, I now think I can look even better by summer.  Summer '11 Bring It On!

Background and other details to follow but first. . .

                                           (please excuse the mess :D)

I want to start with this.  These pics are me in the beginning of Summer '09, when I weighed around 116-118 (@ 5'4").   This is my goal for Summer  '11,  although if I can get in even better shape I'd be happy :)  I am currently 126ish, so only 8-10 lbs to lose, don't want to go under 115 cause then I look too skinny.  Realistically  I am trying to focus on getting tighter and fitter  and hopefully not on the numbers so much.

Also there are some backside pics but they show a little more then I am comfortable showing for now ;)