Thank God For High Walls

So I brought fish for lunch today and halfway through my little fillet, I got horribly, horribly stuck.  Did I stop shoving fish into my mouth during that first slow bite?  Of course not.  Quickly, the slime started rising.  I ran to the bathroom, got out what I could as quietly as possible but at least I was in a stall.  I could tell I didn't quite get it but hoped against hope that it would go down as the afternoon progressed.  I got back to my desk at 12:27 and by 12:28 realized that the saliva wasn't going to stay down and was just about to bolt to the restroom again when my boss asks if I'm available at 12:30.  "Available for what?" I asked.  "A call with ____."  "Ummmm....Sure."  What do I do?  I know I can't make it through a half hour call without this coming up but I can't very well leave the call where I actually have to contribute to go to the restroom to PB.  So I get on the call, can barely squeak out my name and they ask if I or the other one from my team wants to give a quick overview.  Teammate wants me to take it but I just can't....I know I can't talk with yakking so I defer to him frantically look around my ridiculous neat desk (I'm uberorganized at work) for something to PB in. Queue the starbucks cup from our staff meeting earlier in the morning (about once a month my team goes to Starbucks to chat and yes, I know, I know...Coffee House coffee).  Yes, ladies and gents, right there in my Starbucks cup in the middle of my cubicle, I PB'd as quietly as I possibly could while muted on a call.  Then got interrupted mid-PB with a question which I answered and then back to PB'ing I went.  I finally found relief about halfway through the call.  Ugh.  All I can say is thank God I got that promotion and I now have high cube walls or that would've been VERY ugly.

Warrior Dash Training Plan

So I had to change my plan.  The Warrior Dash here in Phoenix is set for April 28th.  I went online to register for it yesterday and discovered all the waves before 3:30 pm are sold out (they start at 9 with 500 people in each wave).  Obviously, this posed some concern.  First, it's the end of April in Phoenix and this is actually held just outside Phoenix in the desert so it's at least 90 degrees but at 3:30...we're talking heat of the day, sun beatin' on you.  Second, I'd be thinking about this thing all day leading up to it, just waiting around.  Third, I would never make it to the Glow Run in time.  But I didn't want to use all these things as excuses to not reach one of my goals for the year.  So I talked it over with Hubby and we found a solution.  The Warrior Dash isn't JUST in Phoenix and the group that organizes this doesn't just do warrior dashes so surely I can find a similar event here in Phoenix or the same event somewhere semi-close.  So I am officially registered for the Warrior Dash in Las Vegas on October 20, 2012 for the 9:00 a.m. wave.  There's a couple benefits to this.  Obviously, it gives me a lot more time to train.  It also gives me a hell of a celebration once I'm done.  If any of you are in Vegas that weekend, come on out and cheer me on and we'll have some fun after!

So what does training for a Warrior Dash look like?  Well, for virgin warriors (that would be me), they have a 7 week training plan that looks like this (from their website).  2 days a week of cardio (walking/running) and 3 days a week of strength training for 7 weeks.  Simple enough.  They include videos of all the strength training stuff they recommend.  Well, that's all well and good if you're in good shape to begin with.  But I'm not...really.  AND this isn't just about the Warrior Dash, it's about being motivated and losing the rest of this weight.  AND since I'm putting this off until October, this isn't just about limping through it anymore either.  I want to nail it.  I want to finish in a respectable time.  I'm not delusional.  I'm not looking to win.  But I want to be someone who no one would think twice about being there...who no one's going to be checking on me a mile in and asking if I'm OK.  I want to hit a home run with this one.  So...I'm starting Monday and my goal is to work out EVERY DAY Monday-Friday following the training plan.  These workouts aren't more than 30 minutes long.  That's VERY doable and I see many of you hitting the gym almost every day and getting it done.  Now, will I miss days?  Absolutely, I'm realistic.  But it's important to have a goal and a plan.  So here it is ladies and gents.  My Mon-Fri plan.

Monday:  Pull ups, Sit ups, Lunges, Burpees
Tuesday: 30 Minutes Running
Wednesday:  Push ups, Planks, Jump Rope, Kettle Bells Swings
Thursday: 30 Minutes Running
Friday: Chair Dips, Super Man, Squats, Wall Climb

So a few notes...you'll notice there are some exercises on here that I can't do yet.  Heck, one of my goals for this year is to do 1 freakin' pull up!  I'm working towards it though and on days that have something I can't really do yet, I'm going to spend the time trying like hell to do it (such as the Wall Climb).  The original training plan was set up to do 1 minutes exercise, 1 minute rest, 1 minute exercise, 1 minute rest, etc.  Then you gradually work up to 2 minutes exercise, 30 seconds rest.  Once I actually make it to that, I'll look at what types of workout plans the "casual warrior" and "ultimate warrior" consist of and progress accordingly. And to keep myself accountable and award myself as I go...I'm bringing back the tracker (insert trumpet music here)!

I know it's hard to read but that's Monday-Friday and a little panda that's going to get added every time I complete a day.  Some of you have stickers, I have clip art.  So what am I doing on weekends?  So glad you asked.  Weekends will be spent getting in any "non workout" activity I can.  Hiking, rock climbing, bleachers, running up and down a hill, attempting monkey bars, walking around the zoo.  Basically, something outside of the "gym" type workout and getting out and doing stuff.  Also, if I get at least 15 pandas a month, I'm treating myself to a pedicure.  That's the reward.  So there ya go.  I'm going to do the 10k at the end of April for the Glow Run and this is in October.  Those are the only 2 events I have planned right now. I'll have to add another 2 5k type events by the end of the year to hit my goal but I think that'll be doable.  

That's what I got for this fine Tuesday.  Off to work I go.

Hubby Birthday Weekend WrapUp

Good morning.  Thank you all for your supportive comments on the last post.  Just a point of clarification...when I say this is the new "fat panda."  I simply meant to illustrate how the perspective can change over time.  While 160 seemed like a great feat a few months ago, it simply is not good enough anymore.  Now on to the weekend.

This was Hubby's birthday weekend and in true family man style, it was spent with me and the girls just doing family stuff.  I know, I know...not exactly "epic."  Anywhoo...On Saturday we went to see The Lorax.  Pretty good film.  I'm not real sure why it's rated PG instead of G as there wasn't anything inappropriate in it for my girls (6 and 4), although I know some of the undertones about capitalism was missed on them.  Anyway...I'd recommend it for anyone looking for a good kids' flick.  My girls liked it and there was lots of singing and music which always helps move kids' movies along.  

Sunday, we spent the morning at the Phoenix Botanical Garden.  They have a butterfly exhibit there that's pretty cool.  We all had at least one land on us and my oldest had 3 at one time!  We found out later it was because she was wearing white. Apparently, white and yellow are the colors to attract butterflies.  We'll probably see this exhibit once more (we have season passes to the Garden) before Butterfly Season ends, so we'll know what colors to wear for next time.  Here are some pics:

I think these were my favorite - love the blue on the ends

Hubby with a Butterfly

Close Up

She was good and held very still for them. Youngest is a little mad that she hadn't had one land on her yet. LOL

Just getting acquainted

My hand on my youngest' belly...it tickled.

Finally!  Lori got one on her leg...we waited a LONG time for one to land on her.

Maddie as a caterpillar

Lori as a butterfly

The rest of the day was spent just hanging out at home.  Exciting stuff.  I made a decision about the Warrior Dash.  I'm going to do it.  I have a 7 week training plan figured out (recommended by their website) and I start today.  I'll do a more detailed post about what that looks like later.  I'm also doing the Glow Run...only I'll be walking it.  The two events are the same day.  I'm pushing myself to do both because 1) I REALLY wanted to do the Glow Run and 2) I think I can handle it.

And to get us all up and motivated this morning, our Monday DEMotivator: