Onward and Downward!

Go here, buy stuff.

A few photos to show you all where I found myself at 5 weeks from show day. I had a good pinch. I have been guided by great people and decide to pay for the lovely Dani Taylor from veganproteins.com to handle my meal plan for the final 6 weeks. Instead of spending my weekend determining what to eat and when I completely rely on someone else to use their knowhow and genius to help shed the layer of fat I’m trying to ditch!

Raging

Oh Lord...

So, I struggled. 6 weeks of painful, self-inflicted mind games and loads of bullshit. My body was out of whack, my mind followed, and my focus seemed non-existent. I spent that time going through the motions. (Albeit important, load bearing, fat burning motions…but in a heartless and gutless manner, it seemed.)

*NEWS FLASH*

Triple X-Posed

Chest is looking good, legs look a bit better.

Because I knew you were sitting at your computer, or browsing FB on your phone thinking..."I haven't seen Stephanie standing around half naked lately...

I'll get to that...

First check out plantbuilt.com and donate some money...or read the athlete profiles. Yep. Anything helps.

But first you have to look at some random photos of food and other random things.

Losing It

.

I've gotten lost a bit in the past 3 weeks. I am drowning in all of the commitments I have made to different people and organizations. I feel restless inside my living situation, and am generally overwhelmed.

I am sitting at work, just waiting for e-mails to roll in...so I'm using the time to write this shit for the world to read. For whatever reason, I think it might help.

Protein Pudding

I love protein shakes...BUT in an effort to get creative with my snacks I looked up different protein puddings and such. Many call for nut butters (teehee <--Not mature enough) and other ingredients...Too much fat, too many calories, and too much effort!!!!

Progress…The Saga Continues

Ok so, I need to post about stuff that happened a week ago. I think you’ll survive. Its like the olden days…with really old news; like when you see someone reading a newspaper…and all you can think is…”No? No internet, television, or radio? You need day old news?”

Progress; Plus Lunch

Ok Folks! I am combining the progress and planning results. So you are going to see the food and my nearly nuuuuuudness…so I apologize in advance.

Getting (Bike) Dressed

 I should be filing…but…

1.       It makes my back hurt, and

2.       It’s boring as hell

So I am going to write about how I get dressed to go biking in cold weather. It was super nice yesterday, which required only shorts and a jersey…but the weather for next week looks lame, so it might be back to the sleeves, pants, jacket, and gloves.

Prepare --> Succeed

Planning:

For years I have heard my mother say, “Prior planning prevents piss poor performance.” Usually in regard to doing homework, some sports related, or forgetting to bring a coat in the middle of winter. It is true; she was right and I use this as a mantra. I lead a relatively busy life, so planning, organization, and preparation are keys to my success.

PROGRESS

I said I would post my progress after my pinch today. So here it is. If you haven’t read my long winded version about what’s going on, check out the following two posts about BEING UGLY and FAT-->FIT.

Fat --> Fit : Trade that A for an I

Late 2012 I was asked if I had any interest in participating with a team of vegan athletes in a body building, figure and bikini competition. Since I was in high school cheerleading I had interest in competing in a fitness competition. I have since abandoned the desire to dance around like an idiot in some fucking weird costume, sneakers and fluffy crew socks…but I still want to build my body to a level unmatched at any time in my athletic career; in mid January I committed.

The Best Oatmeal EVARRRR!!!

I have been eating this oatmeal recipe for the past 2 weeks. I can't usually just eat the same thing over and over and over; but this is different. It is so good, and there are so many dynamic flavors...I simply can't get enough.

Gym Etiquette

I have been lifting weights for…since I was 16. (I’m getting older, so I don’t think I’m supposed to say how old I am anymore.) My high school weight room had a lot of rules. I still believe in them.

Meat Free Athlete

I just joined this website...MEAT FREE ATHLETE...I have scoped it a little. You can submit articles, recipes, meet people in a facebook-y way. I really like the idea. I need to surround myself with more conscious people, and I think this may be a great way to get started.

Check out the site, know that it isn't exclusively for vegetable eaters, and think about becoming a more compassionate human.

Enjoy your day.

Win or Quit

When I was looking to buy a bike I was advised to buy a Cyclocross bike and start racing. I took a few clinics, and had my first race yesterday.

I am registered for the entire 5 week series BLIND DATE AT THE DAIRY. The way it works is I had to register as a beginner and as you perform well you move up into other classes. Beginners-->C-->B-->A...You get it.

I placed 3/29 in the beginner category. I intend to win next week and have the organizers demand I upgrade to C's...Hopefully I can dominate that field too. I was too excited to not post about this on Facebook, Instagram, this blog...while mentioning it to everyone that fills their water at the jug by my cubicle...makes me think I should get a Twitter and a Tumbler...Ha.

I'm being fucking ridiculous, but I'm too excited to care, and I can delete this post at any time.

I'm also helping out with the course stuff, so I stayed after my race and helped clean up. I got filthy. It was amazing. I haven't been that dirty in combination with such an intense high from doing something so competitive in years. Holy crap that felt amazing. I can't wait to do it all again next week!

I registered for a weekend race on 9/30...Hopefully I can dominate that too...

Welp, I'm having a really good day...I hope you are!

BAM.

Side note, VEGFEST THIS WEEKEND!!!!! You should come.

Portland VegFest 2012

This weekend is VEGFEST! Brought to you by Northwest Veg!

Carnivores, Omnivores and Herbivores welcome…come learn about ways to improve your quality of life and the quality of life of those around you; Human and Non-Human alike!! Take a gander at the VegFest Website for details on all of the exhibitors and sponsors.

IF you are not sure what this is all about…watch some movies…on NetFlix or on your computer in the next couple of days…I suggest Food Inc., Fresh, Forks Over Knives (also screening at VegFest), Earthling (be warned…GRAPHIC), and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead…Maybe read some stuff…Since books aren’t as easy to come by (I’ll lend you some books) just Google around…peruse the NW VEG website…Check out some of my favorites listed on my LINKS page. Perhaps just spend some time thinking about where you want to be in 5-10 years and what you want the world around you to look like…

I will be located at The (vegan) Caterer’s booth promoting our services! We will have a slide show of many of our tasty dishes, sample menus, and we have a promotion for 10% off your order if you book an event before 3/31/2013!! (Some restrictions apply…but they are super reasonable J)

In addition to bringing joy through food for our clients’ compassionate events, we have teamed up with PlantFit Training Studio and Registered Dietitian Alison Ozgur to bring the people (that’s you!) a Fitness and Nutrition plan! PlantFit Gourmet will be debuting at VegFest! We will have tons of information available on site, but to entice you…here is a rundown:

·         10 meals per week prepared by The (vegan) Caterer. Lunch and Dinner M-F

·         1 Personal training session and fitness evaluation with Champion Body Builder and Certified trainer Ed Bauer

·         8 Group Class sessions at PlantFit Training Studio

·         2 Nutrition consultations with Registered Dietitian and nutritional author Alison Ozgur; also a signed copy of her book Go Beyond Good



Alison Ozgur's Book!

Be sure to come find us!

VegFest Details:

Dates: September 22^nd-23^rd,

Time: 10am-6pm

Location: Oregon Convention Center 777 NE MLK, Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR; Exhibit Hall A

Admission: $6 for Adults; Free for kids 10 and under

·         Get $1 off if you print THIS COUPON

SLACKER!

Soooo, originally this was supposed to be a blog about running and food and whatnot…after a few weeks it seems to be more about food and whatnot, than it is about running. Hmm, maybe that is because I haven’t run since my half marathon in June. I am signed up for one over labor day, but that shit just ain’t gonna happen…And I’ll tell you why…I’m fucking busy.

It is already the third week of August and I don’t even have my August training calendar up in my cube. I have not been to the gym since 1 week before my June half. It is kind of crazy. Recently I have something going on every night after work that goes until around 9pm, leaving me little time for anything else…This may sound like a buttload of complaining, but it is not. I am psyched!!

During the week the 8+ hours of work and hour of commuting really get in the way of the fun things I would actually like to do, so what ends up happening is I cram a bunch of stuff into the weekends. Sailing, hanging out with friends, laundry, cooking, cleaning, seeing my family, (who I barely recognize any more)…most weekdays I have to be packed and have thought ahead to 2-3 days in advance. To give you an idea of what seems to be a pattern of insanity here is what my week was last week:

Sunday: Sailing and swimming at Vancouver Lake, Sunday dinner with friends

Monday: Work, recruiter meeting, and prepare for the next 3 days.

Tuesday: Drop off car and bike to work, work, sail, and assist with food prep for event…sleep…?

I love my bike!!

Wednesday: Event prep, execution and clean-up…sleep…?

Thursday: Work and sail.

Friday: Work and sail, dinner with my brother, maybe lay down…?

Saturday: Make 175 sandwiches with the help of my lovely sister. Deliver them.

Mmm, Sangwiches...

Last week was insane. This week is similar:

Go on a 4+ mile hike, swim, Sunday dinner with friends, and prepare for the following week.

View West

View East

My sister and me at the top of Angel's Rest...It was bright.

Monday: Drop off car and bike to work, work, bike back to my car, attend Yacht Club Meeting

Tuesday: Work and sail

Wednesday: Bike to work, bike to lunch meeting, bike back to work, work, bike home, pick-up dad from airport

36 Miles on a 97 Degree Day...Fucking Rad.

Thursday: Work and sail

Friday: Bike to work, work, bike home…Relax? OR Take the day off work and go camping for one night.

Saturday: Return from camping, and attend Family beach weekend

Sunday: Beach, drive home, and prepare for the following week.

This shit never ends. I’m fucking tired. It is amazing! After living in Chicago for 2 years and doing virtually nothing but work, eat, watch TV, and hang out, having all of my time filled with tons of activities is incredible. I am making up for all of that time I wasted. I have experienced more of my hometown in the past 3 months than I did in pretty much my entire life up to this point. (This is mostly because in my younger life I was always playing softball/track/cross country/cheerleading on weekends and evenings.)

I am barely at my house. The majority of time I spend there is asleep, and that is typically for 5-6 hours. Somewhere in the mix of things I am supposed to eat and shower <-- I always make time for those things. MUY IMPORTANTE.

This [sort of] brings me back to my original point. I need to get back to pounding pavement and banging weights. I look ok, I am relatively strong, but I definitely should be farther along with my overall physical fitness, and I should be prepared to run a half in 2 weeks…What I will lack in goal accomplishment I have made up for 10 fold by doing everything else. Yeah, having a ton of red Xs and low percentages showing on my calendars makes me feel shitty, but whatever; I’m happy.

When summer series for sailing is over I’ll get back to it. I will run in Run Like Hell in October. I convinced some friends to do it too. So in the near future I will revise my training calendars so they are tailored to that event. I still need to run a half in 1:45 before the end of 2012.

I bought a Cyclocross bike in June and have used it less than I intended…but I’ve ridden to work, and around town a fair amount. I signed up for a clinic to learn how to race. I registered with the appropriate governing body and will try to knock some bitches out for a few weeks in the fall. I want to get into Crossfit too. I suffer from a condition where I want to be super badass all of the time, and I just feel like Crossfit would really contribute to my overall health and well being as well as satisfy my need for ever increasing badass-edness. It will make me stronger, faster and more explosive; all things that will help me with my Cross-ventures and in my half marathons.

I have this fantasy that as soon as weekday sailing is over I will have all of this time to just chill…the reality is I have already filled that space. I seem to not be able to sit still. If I tell myself to take a rest I get anxious that nothing is getting done. I already have goal ideas for next year…

The moral of the story here, I suppose, is even when you make goals things change. You commit to other ventures and your life will have to be slightly reorganized. I do feel shitty about missing out on the half over Labor Day, not running for the entire summer, and all of those damned red Xs…but I did so many things to offset it. I wasn’t sitting on the couch eating Oreos and Chips…I hiked, swam, rode my bike, sailed like a muthuh-fuggin fool, cooked food, became a legit catering assistant, started a blog, wrote a ton of recipes, coordinated 2 events of 120+ people, and probably a bunch of stuff I am forgetting…This has been the best summer since the one after I graduated college where I had no job and just goofed off for 3 months before I entered the “real” world.

So maybe I should have run. Maybe I should have gone to the gym…but I didn’t…what’s a girl to do…? (ANSWER: See extensive list above)

My Approach to Training



My Sunday Shoes



My 2012 goals center on RUNNING. I have lined up 5 half marathons. Goals for which include, running 5 half marathons (2 down, 3 to go), running a half in under 2 hours (CHECK 6/9/2012: 1:55:53), running a half in with 8 minute miles (three more chances), and getting a friend to run in each one (2 fer 2).

GET MOTIVATED

We all have our own motivators. Mine range from the typical to the borderline insane. Playing competitive organized sports my whole life provided me with many that are loosely applicable to much of my life.

First: Avoiding being yelled at; being a kid/teen/young adult this was/is not always an easy task. Sometimes you just want to throw rocks at the person using the porta-crapper next to the field. Besides goofing off, not getting yelled at also includes doing what you are supposed to be doing and doing it RIGHT! Even though I have no coach following me around and watching my every move, I still use this as a great motivator at work and when sailing. Being publicly scolded is fucking embarrassing. Especially if it is something you have done 1,000 other times.



That is One HUGE PUSSY



Second: Ensure you don’t come off as being a giant pussy. (Yeah I am a woman and I use that word in a derogatory way.) If you have made your goals public by spouting off about them constantly (MOTIVATOR) and then you puss out, you look like a giant idiot. To make sure this doesn’t happen to me I actually follow my training schedule and if I am falling behind I shut my trap about my interim failure to avoid being embarrassed by my lazy-ass-ness.



Makes Me Feel Accomplished



Finally: The feeling of success. Walking away from an endeavor with a finished product is amazing. Whether it is a medal, a PR, rock hard abs, or what have you, coming away from a long drawn out process with a check in the “W” column feels friggin’ fantastic.

STAY MOTIVATED

#2 from “GET MOTIVATED” pretty much covers this.

HOW I TRAIN

I’m not an expert. I speak from a buttload of personal athletic experience, book learnin’, and interweb research, so that basically gives me all the authority of a Certified Individual.



Hal Higdon's Intermediate Training Schedule

I started running half marathons using “Hal Higdon’s Half Marathon Training Program.” In the past I have used a mix of the Intermediate and Advanced levels. I take the simple layout designed by Mr. Higdon and create calendars using a template I found in EXCEL. (I am a huge nerd and constantly use Excel to organize my life.) I start from the date of the race and fill in the days backward until I reach the current date or the race that came/comes before. Beginning 2012 I had every workout through December on a calendar; that doesn’t mean it didn’t/won’t change, but having a plan is half the battle.


How I Nerd Out



There are many purposes to these calendars. I keep them up to date with conflicting activities; typically this just means moving around a rest day to free up time for other random happenings. Another purpose is to make use of #2 from above. On my calendar each day I make an X. There are 3 possible colors: Purple, Black, and Red.

              Purple means I did the prescribed workout. One Point. If I had a great session or did something I deem magical I’ll often doodle something extra or add a smiley face.

                Black means I did not do the prescribed workout.  ½ a Point. Whatever I did deserves half credit. (The activity was physically demanding and worthy of being considered “work.”)

                Red means I flaked. ZERO Points. Be it due to a last minute scheduling conflict or just being lazy; RED is BAD. Having that mark on the calendar makes me feel like shit.

 To further the usefulness of the calendars at the end of each month I tally the “points.” Add them up and divide by the number of days in the month, record the percentage and then POST THAT SHIT! It is easier to let everyone know how well you did as opposed to how big of a slacker you are. The question is: if you can’t keep a promise and work hard for yourself who will you work for?

(**I realize I am a mid 20’s, completely single and childless, but we all deserve to be selfish when it comes to our overall health and well being.)






POST THAT SHIT!!!

To hold myself responsible I post a picture on the ‘Facebook’ (old person voice) at month end and pin up the actual calendar at my work desk. If I get a “high score” it feels good. Should the results be sub-par it will, at the very least, shame me into completing future workouts.



Not Training Tools



Some people might argue that this is too much negative reinforcement. I say, “You can shove it.” Rewards are not acceptable for doing things I should have been doing in the first place. If I have an extra good workout that is what the doodles and smiley faces on the calendars are for. Doughnuts and Candy are NOT training tools. 

HOW I REST

Easy to Use

Learning to run isn’t that hard. In fact, you probably knew how before you could crap in a toilet. Learning to rest issss…a bit more of a challenge. I honestly still don’t know how. I build rest days into my program, but when resting I often feel like I should be doing something. My body needs time to recover, but I don’t know the BEST way. I need to pound into my head that cross training is not the same as rest.

After a race I take a week or two off. In my current cycle I am on the 3^rd week without running. It’s a bit longer and feels weird, but I can tell I need the mental break in order to gear up for my next training period and achieve the goals I have outlined for that race.

PAIN and INJURIES

A huge part of rest in athletics is related to injuries. If you are hardcore you sacrifice your body. Scrapes, cuts, and bruises are no reason to be held back from competition. A sprained ankle? Let’s get that taped up and GO! Got a scrape? Rinse it with water and pack some dirt in there to make a quick scab. In college my coach would ask, “Are you hurt or injured?” Sometimes the line isn’t clear.



A Few Blisters Won't Stop Me



When I am in the heat of competition or in the middle of a run I am able to block that part of my mind. I don’t feel those kinds of pain; the ONLY thing is being faster/stronger and making the mark.

After the game/race is a different story. For whatever reason, getting my ass up off the couch and walking up the stairs is harder than putting in a 10 miler. It is up to each individual to determine their threshold for pain. Mine is high, often to a fault. I don’t pay attention to signs of overuse injuries. One day it may come back and bite me in the ass, but for now I’ll keep powering through.



We all know that you are supposed to have fun when running or playing sports. It was engrained in us as children (to make losers feel better.) My sure fire way of having fun is to WIN. I know I won’t cross the line first, but if I leave with what I came for (a medal and a PR or…?) then I won. Other people’s approaches to achieving goals may be a little more laid back, but I don’t have time for that shit.

TRAIN TO WIN.