Halfway point

I cannot believe that it's been 3 weeks of boot camp every night.  It's getting easier too...oh, not the workouts, mind you, but how well I'm feeling afterwards. 

Last night was back at Edworthy, and we basically repeated what we did on Tuesday at Weaslehead, albeit on the "stairs" and goat trail.  Up and down, up and down.  Then we got "really tough"!  There's a new triple play Trainer Josh loves, that involves dips, incline push-ups and step ups.  Back and forth, with push-ups, burpees, 1-legged squats, lunges, sprinting, curls, shoulder press and extensions thrown in for good measure!  Feeling lucky I can stand today!!

Picked up our fresh veggies again last night (starting to see stuff of substance) and dropped off H-woman's share.  Sadly, hers includes all the potatoes, as I think Trainer Josh is making me break up with them!!!  I then met up with the runners at Eau Claire, and enjoyed a pint (Josh said Guinness is okay, but just one) and steamed mussels (cooked in a broth of tomatoes and Frank's Red Hot Lime sauce - YUM) without the glorious chunk of garlic bread to dip with, and a side green salad.  Came home, and crashed.  Didn't even turn the computer on.

Today at weigh-in, I came oh, so, close to a huge milestone.  I am within spitting distance of being under 200 pounds for the first time in FOREVER.  Next week...  Enjoyed by usual Thursday lunch of crab & corn salad, thai marinated avocados, spinach, greens, and tomato/cucumber/cheese salad.  Stuck with smaller portions than I usually have (which was hard, as I arrive there after meeting and I am HUNGRY) and actually finished eating feeling satisfied, not stuffed.  Snack later for the day was fresh fruit salad (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, grapes, pineapple) and a babybel.  This is an older shot...today I did not get a nut bar, or the mango salad.

Back to North Glenmore for boot camp, after a brief nap.  I debated nap vs. cutting the grass, and wouldn't you know it, the nap won out!  Good thing I showed up refreshed.  I swear Trainer Josh is trying to make someone throw up this week, and it may very well be me.  After a brief run to warm up, we started at our various stations, but check-point charlie (aka, "home") was where we all started.  Step-ups (or hops, if you had it in you) followed by jumping jacks.  Oh, 15 of everything...I know you are dying to know that.  Then we moved on to the next station, where we did the triad of dips, incline presses and 1-legged squats.  Back to home, repeat, off to next station.  Bands, where we curled, seated row and lat pulls.  Back to home, repeat, station 3.  Five burpees followed by sprint out and back, repeat 3 times.  Back to home, repeat, off to station 4.  On the mats, plank row with push-up, drop-leg flies.  Back to home...repeat whole mess again!!!  I made back to station 3, but thankfully Josh called time before I started the dreaded burpee.  I loath burpees!!  Finished up the class with some core and ab work.  I left feeling stronger than I have in months.

Managed to beat the massive summer storm home (HUGE thunderclaps, hail, lightening...the usual) and while I sat far away from anything metal or electronic, I cooked up a Marc Angelo butterflied chicken breast, and just before it finished, I tossed on the swiss chard we got in our baskets last week.  Topped that with some herbed goat cheese, and sun-dried tomato dressing, and inhaled.  Again, HUNGRY.  While I waited for that to cook though, I whipped up a quick green monster of spinach (again from the basket), frozen banana, pineapple and UVAB.  That helped fill a hole.

Must go pack up for my road trip tomorrow.  Driving up to Edmonton after boot camp, and then spending Saturday chillaxin, visiting the expo and seeing what downtown Edmonton has to offer.  Then it's early to bed and up for marathon.  Hoping the heat of the day (forecast to feel like +29C) holds off till I'm mostly done.  I did get sun-stroke in Calgary in +14C, for crying out loud, so I admit to being a little nervous.  Yes, sunscreen will be packed!  I will also be taking the notebook, so hoping the hotel has wifi!

Later,

Sprint-a-thon

After Sunday's hike, and yesterday's squat-ariffic squat-a-thon, today we ran sprints.  Uphill.  With lunges and squats thrown in for fun.  Uphill.  Over and over and over again.  Uphill.  I have no feeling from the hips down!!  We then moved to our mats and did 5 45-second exercises, and then ran down and back up the hill.  Oh, this is at North Glenmore, and the hill in question was the infamous Weaslehead! 

After boot camp, I managed to drag myself back to my car, and pick up some spinach and Greek yogurt for the Green Monster madness I've started this week.  Tonight's concoction had spinach, Greek yogurt, banana (no frozen ones...boo), pineapple and UVAB.  I needed to get my calories up for the day, but keep the carbs down, so I also had some plain 1% cottage cheese and the last of the chicken strips I bought last week.  Hope they were okay...didn't smell or taste funny.  If not, remember me fondly, won't you all??

I also had to swing into Walmart, because I am an idiot.  I think after Sunday's hike, I didn't hit the lock button all the way on James, and someone decided to help themselves to my iPod Nano, my GPS, the adaptor for the iPod and all my parking change.  Oh, and my $10 sunglasses!!!  Seriously?!?!  I take full responsibility for being a dolt, after all, I do live downtown.  But still...I have not been having the best thoughts regarding the crack-head who took off with the stuff.  My mother raised me better then that.  New Nano and adapter in hand but they were sold out of the GPS I wanted, so I'll shop around Blackberry App land and see what I can find.  At least I'll have tunes for the drive up to Edmonton on Friday.  And I am triple checking that I've locked the damn doors!

After work and before boot camp, George and I had an appointment with Dr. Sean.  It was to be with Coco, but I took advantage of the time slot and had George in for his annual.  Dr. Sean is pleased with how well he's doing, and the fact that he's even gained more weight.  We "may" (depends on blood work results tomorrow) even get to ease back on the insulin!  Yahoo George!!!

Okay...I was up far too late last night and felt it this afternoon on Weaslehead.  Must head to bed.

Later,

Weekend Update and a tongue lashing

After my much needed haircut on Saturday, and some running around with Mom, I met up with a friend from work who moved away about 4 years ago.  He was here under sad circumstances, but it was nice to meet up and catch up a bit.

I did admit to eating a chicken sandwich (grilled chicken breast on a bun, with salad - TONS of salad) and a Guinness before the race scheduled for 9:30 that night.  I figured the little bit of bread (read: carbs) wouldn't hurt.  After catching up, meeting some of his friends and assuring myself he was in good hands, I took off from the far NE part of Calgary to the deep SW, North Glenmore Park.  Arrived in good time, about 8:15, and managed to find a relatively close parking spot and the group very quickly.  We went into the park, trying to figure out the route, and just all chatted about our various days.  Then, as the sun started to set and the wicked full moon came out, the race began.  There was a lot of people racing (1,000??), whether they were doing the 5 or 10km.  Simple course, as we ran the roadway through the park from west to east, turned at the Canoe Club and onto the pathway back to the west to Weaslehead, turn around and back to the east.  Any 5k's turned off at this point, while us 10k's kept going for loop #2.  I maintained a good, steady pace.  The breathing was awesome, the temperatures great and there weren't any bugs, that I felt anyway.  Didn't fall over anyone, although there were some people that sounded like they were in serious need of medical attention!  I walked once at the 8km point, but only for 30 seconds, before I caught my breath and ran it in, even managing to surge past not one, but THREE runners ahead of me.  1:10 was my official chip time, which is about 3 minutes slower than my personal best.  Not so bad, considering I haven't been so much of a "runner" lately, and more so of a boot camper.  I am going into the marathon on Sunday in a better mind space now.

Crossed the finish line, hugged everyone, grabbed a water and a treat and immediately left the park (and beer garden/party) to head for home, as we had moved our Saturday hike to Sunday and were all meeting at 8am

This time, we went up to Bourgeau Lake.  All of these trails are new to me, but this one was nice.  The weather was perfect, and the hike relatively easy, with a bit of a climb at the last bit to the lake.  However, all switchbacks and in the trees, which makes it a bit easier to deal with.  There were 7 of us this time, as we added Z. and D. (a Mister!) to the mix. 

Thanks Jaime!  I had fun playing in the Picnik site.
After lunch, we decided to keep going to Harvey Lake and Harvey Pass, which was only a 290m climb from where we were.  It was a bit more difficult though, as the path opens up into a shale field, and is quite steep in places.  Again, it wasn't the up that was so bad, it was the thought of "how the heck am I getting down that, besides on my butt" that keeps going around my head!  But the views from Harvey Pass were worth it, with Assiniboine off in the distance.

It was quite a bit windier up on the pass, and while some headed up some more, to the first "bump" on Bourgeau Pass, my legs (and spirit) just wouldn't let me go!  I sat and rested, contemplated life and hung out with M. (still nursing a leg injury) and Z, while we waited on the others to return. 

Me, admitting defeat!  "I surrender!"

Slow and steady was the name of the game on the way out, with my feet slipping a couple of times, but nothing too scary.  Okay, I was a little scared!  It was a long hike down, and by the end, my feet were telling me they were done with this silliness.  I can only handle my toes jamming into my shoes for so long before I get cranky!  After a game of Frogger (we were parked across the highway from the trail head), we all made our way into Canmore for supper.

This is where the tongue lashing comes in...see, we went to this really sweet Poutine place, that J. knows (she grew up with the owners!).  I will say everyone asked if it would be okay with me, and could I eat, and I answered "hell yes, I hiked over 7 hours and for 20km, so I can eat!", but after my admonishment from Trainer Josh tonight, perhaps poutine (however small) and a steamed dog wasn't my best decision.  It was good though...but he's right.  Am I doing this, or am I DOING THIS!?

I.AM.DOING.THIS!!!!  Dinner tonight, after boot camp, was a Green Monster, strengthened up with Greek Yogurt for extra protein kick.  Boo-yah!

Later,

Weekend Update

So tired, so you'll have have to look at a tease picture of what I was up to.  Deets tomorrow, I promise.

Waiting with this crew for our 10km race to start at 9:30pm.  Yes, a night race.  Twas awesome!

And then I was back with the same crew (well, not everyone, but the ones that count!) for a 20km hike up to Bourgeau Lake, Harvey Lake and Harvey Pass.  Some ventured onto Bourgeau Mountain and up it's pass, but my feet/legs were having none of that.

Going to bed.

Later,

Returns

First...celebrate the return of my eyes from behind a wall of hair! 

Please note the sweat...it's a warm one today!

And secondly...tada!  The triumphant return of the Green Monster!

Into the new KitchenAid (hereby to be soon as "I Lurve U" or KA) went two big handfuls of spinach, a frozen banana, 2 spears of fresh pineapple, UVAB and a glob of almond butter.  Get in my belly!!!

The KA is new because I was thinking smoothie today, and yet I could not find all the pieces of my blender, anywhere I looked.  This one so kicks the other to the curb anyway.  It used to leave chunks, or the bananas would get stuck in the blades.  Just a quick whir and we were off to the races.

Speaking of races, I'm off to get changed, go meet my friend for a brew and a bite (low carb, good race food), then down to North Glenmore park for the 10km.  Deets may not come till tomorrow sometime, depending on my arrival back home and whether it's ridiculously late or not.  I am, after all, meeting up with the hiking ladies at 8am for another adventure hike in the mountains tomorrow.

Later,

Focus, Carol, focus...

That's what one of the fellow booters likes to yell at me, when he's razzing me about holding up the group, or laughing at what I'm doing (I'm laughing too, BTW), or trying to figure out a move.  It's caught on, as Trainer Josh will yell it out every now and then, and others, even via Facebook.  Focus, Carol.  That's what I'm doing. 

One lady, who I met last summer at boot camp, and saw intermittently through the winter, came back this spring, after a rather harsh fall/winter (same parental issues that I went through) at 190 lbs.  She totally owned up to the problem, and she looked so different (and felt like crap) that she did something about it.  Well, this week, she's back after a month in the Okanagan, and she looks FREAKING FABULOUS!  She's dropped 45 pounds, she's ripped, she's got a six-pack, and she came in 2nd in her very first 5-Peaks Trail Run!!!  SU-ICK!!!!!  I WANT THAT!  Granted, she is 15 years younger than I (old dog, new tricks, you know how it goes) but she said it was the combination of Weight Watchers (she loves the new system) and Trainer Josh kicking her butt.  I am now focused!  This week's loss helps so much in keeping my eye on the prize, but I am only concentrating on achieving my first goal.  Seeing a number on the scale that starts with a 1.  It will happen, soon.  And then soon enough, I will be the one everyone is talking about!

Boot camp last night was Tabata Friday.  After running the BA hill and down the goat trail/stairs (Trainer Josh challenged us all (insert hysterical laughter from me here) to beat the current record of 6:45  or something like that.  The total loop is just over 1 km, but also includes a 63m (207') climb right at the start.  And it's at a pretty intimidating angle to boot!  I did not break the record, nor did the jack-rabbit pair of C. and I. - they took a paltry 7:24!  Slackers!!  After the climb, we tabata'd (is that a verb?!) squats, lunges, basketball lunges (hold weight, lunge to the right and "throw" weight out, back to centre and jump up, "throw" weight to left with lunge, repeat), jump rope, curls, shoulder press, seated rows, leg lifts, jumping jacks, before running up the bitch-path just once and returning for some killer ab work.  I just going through the pain and sweat, telling myself I will soon be "su-ick" like C. and Trainer Josh will be gushing about me to his other groups!!  Yes, I will stay focused.

Got home, after swinging by the Running Room at Glenmore to pick up my race package for tonight's night run.  Should be fun, it's "only" 10km and I know a lot of the other runners participating tonight.  And there's a beer garden afterwards.  The race starts at 9:30 and we all have headlamps we have to wear (it's in the rules...) as part of our race swag.  Nice shirt too, but not the one they advertised.  It was supposed to have reflective parts, but this is just a black, long sleeved technical tee.  Liars!  Once home, I tossed carrots, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, red/green & yellow peppers, mixed herbs and evoo into a pan and roasted till everything was a golden, caramelly brown.  Heated up a nice piece of roasted turkey breast that I had (with a little chicken broth, to keep moist) and that was dinner.  I'm getting used to not thinking about pasta/rice/potatoes with dinner, and I'm challenging myself to do this for 21 days - form a habit right?  I will push through!

Up and at 'em this morning, about to head to Mom's.  Then it's off to Wissam to get my hair cut/coloured (the grays must die), off to meet an old friend/coworker that moved to the island and is here under the saddest of circumstances, as he knew the poor man trapped under his vehicle and drowned by last Friday's massive storm.    Then it's off to the race, visit afterwards, home, bed and out to the mountains for a Sunday hike/adventure.  Can't get into too much trouble...we all have to work on Monday!

Later,

Boo-yah!

Don't know if it was the boot camp every night or mixing things up food-wise (no carbs after 3pm) but I lost 4.4 pounds at weigh-in today, and am the lowest I have been since BEFORE Weight Watchers introduced the Points Plus program in December!  What ever it is, I don't care.  I am sticking with it all, as this was the boost my battered weight-loss ego needed!

Didn`t blog last night, as by the time I went to boot camp (Trainer Josh as a new favourite, as we`ve done it every night so far...squats or lunges, then 10 hops forward, repeat till you drop!), picked up the latest crop from Eagle Farms for H-woman and myself, dropped off H`s produce, met the gang for a brew and a bite, it was almost 10pm.  So I was a good girl and didn`t even turn the computer on, choosing instead to do some tidying up, change George`s litter and hit the hay, lights out, at 10:26.  Pretty sure I was asleep by 10:27!

Tonight`s bootcamp was interrupted briefly by another summer storm, but we gathered in the shelter of a cookhouse (at North Glenmore Park) and by the time we did our warm-up (run down the path with our weights, stopping to do various stuff, ending with sprinting up and down the staircase) the rain had stopped and it turned into a lovely evening.

Came home, and was so hungry, I just couldn`t wait to cook something, so dinner was an odd hodge-podge of sorts...sardines (I know, most say ewwww, but I love them) straight out of the can (packed in water) with some Thai chili sauce on them, a small avocado with the same sauce, some 1% cottage cheese and a schwack of fresh veggies...peppers, zucchini, carrots and sugar snap peas.  I did have a small chocolate jonesing, so I did indulge in a bit of trail mix (has m&m`s in it) so it was a bit on the healthier side and I was able to control the portion.

Dr. Sean (George`s vet) sent me the loveliest card for Coco, including her little footprint inside, and he didn`t even get to meet her!  He really is a sweet man, who loves cats to death - it shows when he`s examining them - and this gesture, how ever small, brought me to tears.  Not of sadness...okay, a little bit of sad, but just knowing someone else cared about my baby girl.  Hence the chocolate fix mentioned above.  But I will not derail all of my hard work (my aching muscles won`t let me!!) in one fell swoop, and will keep moving forward.  If my legs let me...

Later,