GOALS of 2013

I was trying to change the format of my blog on here, and it wasn't working. I'll try again another day. For now, have fun with this typical format.

GOALS!

I have changed so much from when I first started this blog... from when I first started going to the gym!

I am so much stronger, healthier. I am happy.

Anyways, I'll split my goals into 3 categories: Running, Lifting and Food/Health (gulp...).

Running Goals:
1. Run a marathon! I have run a half, and I am ready to train for the full! I am running a 30k first in (April?). I should probably look up the date. I signed up for it. MARCH 24th. WHAT THE WHAT. Oh god. I need to go run brb. Jk. But seriously, that's intense! PROOF: http://www.eventsonline.ca/events/atbrr/confirm.htm LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE RUNNING IT!! There's a max of 8,500 people. They have not reached that. Yep. I am going to  be indistinguishable. Largest run ever! Anyways... I want to run a Marathon. Maybe the TO one if I sign up...

2. Not get injured. I injured myself 3 times last year. I need to pace myself in my training, not push myself, and wear proper shoes. AND STRETCH! I will try not to injure myself.

3. This is a conditional one. If there is track and field, I will sign up, and do the 3000m (It's the longest race). 3k. It simple, it's just I have to work on my SPEED. I hate speed work. 5k training for cross country was a b*tch.

Lifting Goals:
1. I want to gain approx 11lbs of muscle to weigh 130lbs. I don't think this is too realistic, but I will definately aim for it. I am going to lift until I die. Jk. Okay but seriously, I want to gain muscle.

2. Move past 180lbs in my reverse leg press. I can barely do 180 as it is, right now. Some leg presses I can do like almost 300lbs, but the one that is on a tilt and you are pushing your legs over your head is a bitch.

3. Bicep curl to reach 25lbs.

4. Tricep pull down to reach 30 lbs.

5. Train my forearms, I always forget to.

Food/Health Goals:
1. Drink at least 750mL of water a day. I don't think this is as much as you are supposed to, but I don't even drink that, somedays.

2. Stretch after I workout, especially on leg day and after running.

3. Drink no more than 2 cups of coffee a day. I've been drinking 3. Coffee and caffeine have pros and cons to them. I hate when people tell me it is so bad for me, it really isn't. I actually drink coffee to caffeine load for running. Although, it also dehydrates you, so I drink more water when I caffeine load.

4. Eat enough. This sounds bad. Somedays I don't eat enough for my lifestyle. I eat pretty much the "bare minimum" on most, average days. I should be eating a lot more, as I have learned in exercise science. I probably get 1200-1800 calories a day. I should be getting like 1800-2500 for my lifestyle. Whoops. Somedays I get more than enough, but that is usually when I have junk food (which doesn't happen too often).

5. Eat more green vegetables.

6. Eat more "holistic like" foods. Things like ginger and green tea, that are good for cleansing your body. I don't get enough of that stuff. It helps my metabolism and stuff.

So yeah. Those are my goals.

I better get going, there is a candle on the other side of my room, and I am almost sure the flame is going to drown in its melted wax... it's been burning for a few hours.

Let's DO THIS!

Yes.

I hope to get to go to OFSSA. To do this, I must be a top 3 individual, or in one of the top 2 teams. Since our Senior girls team always gets dead last... I must be a top 3 individual.

I got 10th at Bay of Quinte, and many of the people ahead of me were in the top 2 teams. So if you remove them... I would be 4th. The person I have to beat ran about 1:30 faster than me.

I think I might be able to shave 1 minute AT LEAST off my time. Then hope the adrenelaine will really kick in.

What one of the coaches.. not even a coach, just one of the gym teachers at my school said "Everyone at Cross Country wants the same thing, everybody has the same mindset and the same goal"

I agree. I can't agree more. But I want this... so bad. I feel like I can do it. I know I can. I can push it at COSSA. BUT WHAT DRIVES ME COMPLETELY NUTS is the way this is run. I have to qualify at cossa.. but if you look at ofssa's times from last year... I would've made 113/245 runners. So even though my time is amazing... I still won't qualify because everyone at cossa is really good.

Brb let me go switch districts.

Anyways, in other news, I am thinking I will do varsity cross country in univeristy. I was looking at the times at universities I want to go to, and yeah, I am going to get on the team. My time is about average of theirs. Maybe a bit higher.

UGH!

Anyways, my personal best is 22:13

I am trying to get it down to 21:00

Let's do this?

Yes.

Anyways, I have to do this by next wednesday. So I am going to all practices, I am going to run on Saturday, rest on Sunday, but I might do 2 runs on Monday and Friday (one in morning one afterschool) just so I can get in the extra practice.

If I don't make ofssa, well I can't really complain... well of course I can.

But nobody in moira in cross country has made ofssa in years...

Also, so far none of us have gotten any awards at any meets.

Kinda sucks.

But oh well. I wish I started this younger, but I am doing it now, and that is all that matters!

Avoidances

I have being avoiding so many things lately.

I knew that once school started, my fitness would begin to deteriorate! I have less time! So I have been working out like... 5 times a week.. for like 1-1.5 hours. I used to do like 2-2.5 hours about 5 times a week. I do have cross country... but that doesn't make up for much lost time... especially strength training.

But I just slowly moved slowly away from being determined to go to the gym... more assignments piled up and tests popped up. I tried going in the morning before school.. which doesn't work too well unless I only do strength training. I don't sweat as much then, so I can get away with not taking a shower, or just not washing my hair. Drying my hair takes too long...

I mean, sure. I'd have time, but I have to sleep.

So basically... I can't make excuses anymore. I might quit my one job. I've been saying this for 2-3 weeks now. I really don't know when I'll quit. If I do anytime soon.

So I guess I should be setting some more goals...

Well. Running first of all. Update! For cross country, I am a senior girl which means I run 5km. Out of our whole cross country team, it is mostly senior girls. I'm the only grade 12, the others are grade 11s.

Anyways, I went to the first invitational and I got 16th out of 61 senior girls! It was AWESOME! Except for the insane amount of hills, horse shit, sand, twigs, rocks and mud. But otherwise it was so fun! I ran 23:36 or something like that.

So my pace averaged 4:41.

I really REALLY want it down to 4:20. Bay of quinte is... in 19 days? If I run 16 of those days... and run 5km each time + do other things like speed training and I can do things like use the treadmill to keep my pace steady.... I might be able to do that. But it is still going to be a struggle... even if I can't get it down by BOQ... if I can get it down for COSSA I can make it to OFSSA! But honestly... its not like that is an unrealistic goal... but very difficult to make it to OFSSA. You must be in the top 3 from COSSA or in the top 2 teams (our team is dead last). I figure that based on COSSA results from last year, if I run a 4:20 pace I can be 5th. But if I run my 4:41 pace I would've been... 17th. GAHH! 3rd place runner last year ran at 4:11.

I'm so mad at myself for not starting running earlier! But thats okay. Maybe I'll do varsity in Uni.

But on the plus side, I am the fastest female runner at my school. :)

Okay other than the 4:20 goal...

I will work on my upper body strength. My arms are actually so weak. I work them out all the time, but something is just not working. I think I need to get more creative with my arm routine. Like going across monkey bars like a zillion times and weird shit like that.

Well. Now that I've got all of that off my chest...

Run run run

Running 5km. The only thing on my mind.

So last Tuesday I ran 5k in 27:40 something like that.
Then I was timed again on Friday and I did it in like 23:30.

If you are a runner, you understand this is a significant improvement. Even though on Tuesday it was extremely hot and Friday was nice and cool... this is still intensely different.

23:30... is an amazing time for a 16 year old girl to do a 5k. I would likely score in the top 20 at meets.... depending, obviously.

But I still want to make it faster. I want to run it in 20:00. Which would make me in the top 5 (likely would at least). That means I need an average of a 4:00/km pace.

Right now my pace is averaging at 4:42, but I run between 4:10-4:53 usually. But I usually am steady at 4:20-4:45. It basically averages out to 4:42.

I want to slash :42 seconds per km off of my time. That is insane. Insane. No. It is not. If I work hard, I might be able to do this. I just might have to throw up a few times (I mean this in the sense that when you work too hard you throw up, not in an anorexic way), pass out a bit, and maybe fall down a couple of times.

But I will do a LOT of training this week. I only can make practice Tuesday, and maybe Friday. I am going to do Monday and Thursday on the Treadmill at Goodlife. I like training on the treadmill because you can set in your pace, and so you know you are steady. I will do that Monday and Thursday. Sunday and Wednesday I will train by myself outside not at practice. Likely I will do some sprints as well. If I can get my 100m sprint down to 13 seconds, I might join track and field for 100m sprints in the Spring. But thats not what I am focusing on.

Right now (without trying too hard) my sprints are about 16 seconds.

But anyways.

I am planning on making OFSSA. Or I hope to.

HOLY FUCK. People made ofssa with times of 23:30! They got like 160th. But. Yeah. Having a time of 20:00 would be nice. I might get like 20th at Ofssa.

But I am not saying I am going. I just really hope I do.

Oh goodness I am now really pumped.

<3

Where am I going with this?

Hi. I still have not blogged about my HALF MARATHON!

AH! I did it! 2:01:42.7? Something like that. The 2:01 part is right. I came 2nd for my age and sex. Which was UNEXPECTED!

Amazing.

Anyways. After I ran it, my mom said "So where are you taking this?" in reference to my running. Of course, I didn't know. Would I try to improve my time/pace? Would I try to work towards a marathon?

I really didn't know.

Now I do.

I joined cross country at school! I am hoping to get to COSSA. I need to attend 16 practices (which should hopefully work out).

But the coach said something about a pace of 4:00min/km is what she would like us to be at, but 5:00min/km is best. For senior girls this is a 5km race. The half marathon is 21km. So that is not the issue.

The issue is my pace. My pace running the half marathon was 5:46min/km. Which is actually not a bad pace... for a half marathon. But I need to make my pace faster and run less.

I used to go for 10-15km runs to train, a couple of times a week. Now I need to go for faster and shorter runs to train.

I don't see it being an issue. I tried a 5km run with a faster pace the other day, and my pace was around 4:35min/km. But of course, I definitely want to bring it down. Just a lot of training.

Time and persistence give you results.

Thats all it takes.

Lesssgooo. 

Halfie...

The half marathon is coming up so quick! Oh my goodness! I actually am so nervous/excited. I am nervous, more just because it is social interaction. *cough* nerd.

I am excited to run though! Hopefully this will boost my speed!

I had a dream the other night that I finished the Half-marathon at 2:04:58 (2 hours 4 minutes 58 seconds). But in my dream I realized I forgot to wear the tracker anklet (so they know your exact time). So I was disqualified.

I always thought that it would take me about 2:20 - 2:30 to finish it. But I realized that my pace will probably put me at 2:08. I have to run 9 seconds a mile faster to reach 2:04. Amazing right? So I might be able to do it!

But I keep forgetting, I shouldn't make a time goal my first time around! I just should make the goal to finish the half-marathon! I am just so excited!

But in all honesty. I will probably finish anywhere in between 2:08-2:18.

Compared to the (only 61) runners last year, that would put me in 26th-48th in the race. So not last. Not first. But whatever. I'm EXCITED!

In other news, my mom is making me stay at her friend's house during this time in Ottawa. I want a hotel. I said I'd pay for it. My mom STILL doesn't want that. Mom, you can go visit your friend but I don't want to.

Anyways, thats it for now!

Toodles.

Fitness stuff I want

I need new running shoes. I got bored and decided to look around at different shoes, then I decided to make a blog out of it.

Nike Free Run Shoes
I want to try them on before I get them but theres a lot of hype about them. Plus I am going to need a new pair of runners soon!

http://www.footlocker.com/product/model:175880/sku:10643002/nike-free-run-+-3-womens/black/grey/?cm=GLOBAL%20SEARCH%3A%20KEYWORD%20SEARCH#sku=10643004

Vibram Five Finger shoes
Yes, they look ridiculous. But yes, I REALLY want them. Yes, I am willing to be made fun of for wearing them. Runners are built up like that. You are GUARANTEED to be yelled at while running, especially after 7pm. The other day one guy literally yelled "I wanna see that ass naked" at me. I don't think he was as straight to the point as I was hoping. Sarcasm.

Either the Treksport ones

or the Spyridon LS ones

I'm too lazy to look now. But I am going to get a new pair of runners, and some of those type of shoes, soon. Hopefully!

I'm not an Athlete + Why I run

Today on my run I remembered something...

As a kid I never considered myself athletic. Even now I don't. Now I just say that I am active, because really... what sports can I play? (Cricket Noise)

But as a kid I played softball and eventually basketball. I gave up on basketball in grade 7 when I didn't make Harry J's team. :(

But I briefly remembered something else. Once as a kid I decided to be healthy... randomly. Allow me to explain. I decided one day that I would fill up my Heart and Stroke foundation water bottle, and grab my jump rope and my bicycle and I would spend quote "All day" outside exercising. I was probably 7. Also, I probably lasted 20 minutes before I gave up/my mom made me stop.

Right before I left Lyndhurst in grade 5 I decided "I would do everything". Meaning clubs. So what did I do? I signed up for choir. I signed up for cross country. What happened? I fucking moved to Belleville.

Why do these things happen to me?

The other day I told myself that I probably would've never started running if I never moved to Belleville. But now I am remembering cross country. Would I have given it up if I lost, like I did with Basketball? Or would I have continued like I said I would have? I actually don't know. I probably would've given up, but if I didn't that statement I said about moving to Belleville isn't true.

Oh. You know what? I don't think I have ever explained WHY I started running. Oooh. Thats awkward... well I sort of have.

Back in November 2011 is when I finally decided to "start running". Trust me, I sucked. I barely could run for 3 minutes straight. I felt so happy when I ran without stopping to a song... I think it was Katy Perry.

But the reason I started THEN was because I wanted to start exercising more.

Then as I said before, I started running even more in February 2012 when I joined the gym. This time was because I wanted more cardio, so I decided to start running for cardio.

Somewhere around March/April/May ish I started running outside. I really don't remember when. Probably April. But THEN I started running because it was a goal. A goal inspired by, as I have said before.... ShayCarl on youtube. As you may know, he lost a lot of weight and has now ran 1 half marathon and 2 full marathons. Before he ran his first marathon this year (The LA Marathon) I decided I wanted to run a marathon someday.

And you know the rest.

But basically right now the reason I am running is for cardio and because I don't want to embarass the shit out of myself at the Halfie. Which is in.... 21 days?! WHAT. HOLY SHIT. That is 3 weeks.

The most I have run is 11.5 miles. The halfie is 13.1 miles. I told myself that I know I can run it as long as I have run at least 10 miles. I am still hoping to run 15 miles before the halfie though.

Tata for now ;)

Putting down the straightener and picking up the weights

Slowly but surely I am not giving a shit about what I look like.

Well, Makeup and hair wise. I'm just like. THROW SOME SHIT ON MAH FACE AND PUT MY HAIR UP in less than 3 minutes.

I straightened my hair for the first time since I got it cut a few days ago.

But I noticed that this all sort of aligns with the fact that I workout so much now. Whats the point of makeup if I am going to sweat it off and clog my pores in 2 hours?

Back in Grade 10 if you told me this I would probably slap you. I religiously straightened my hair and did my makeup. I spent like an hour. I'm not even kidding you. Well, half of that time was probably dancing to whatever music I was listening to... but...

I don't know.

I just don't care.

This is a short blog.

Awks.

Best Run Ever

This will hopefully be brief and take me less than 5 minutes to write.

This is the story of my attempt to run 12 miles today.

The story starts yesterday.

On August 2nd I awoke and realized "I am supposed to run 4 miles today. Thats easy.". So I got up, and started running. I decided to try not eating before my run, because I know that if I run immediately after I eat, sometimes I feel like I may throw up. Anyways, this long-story short, I ran like 3.1 miles, and got EXHAUSTED and went home. I figured it was a short run, and I need a break anyways. I went to the gym later that day and did abs and a little more cardio.

Yesterday I was aware of how tired I was, and have been especially lately. I remembered "Oh shit, I have to run 12 miles tomorrow."

 So I made sure to go to sleep to get at least 7 hours of sleep. I went to bed at 11:15 expecting to get up at 6:15/6:30ish.

 I did this.

 I woke up around 6:20. I got up, ate food, got all my running gear on. I turned the olympics on to watch them while I quickly ate some breakfast. Then I looked at the time and it was 7am. So I realized "its time to run". But I was too tired. I was extremely tired. I kept weighing out the pros and cons of whether or not I should run, and then decided "No. I need to rest." I took all my running gear off and sat on the couch to watch the olympics.

I fell asleep around 7:15 on the couch (EVEN AFTER having some energy booster stuff). I woke up at 9:00 to my mom asking me "Are you coming to Wal Mart with me?" So I said yes, and got ready and went to wal mart. I went to the gym and did deltoids and back and a tiny bit of cardio.

At the gym I decided maybe I will work up the energy throughout the day to go for a Run tonight. But I decided even if I was too tired, I would just ride my bike briefly to get in a little cardio. I figured I would run the 12 miles either tonight, Saturday night, or Sunday morning.

Well tonight rolled around and I decided to do it. I put on my running gear. I decided not to run with my iPod, only for the 3rd time ever. I grabbed my phone which I knew would die halfway through my run and my mom would get pissed. I left.

It was the best run ever. I watched the sun go down over, then it got dark. The temperature was perfect. Just enough for me to wear cool-clothing and sweat a little, without dying of dehydration quickly. I easily ran the first 5 miles. Then I took a short 1 minute walk. Then I ran easily to 7.5 miles. Then I told my mom where I was and told her where I was going, when I would be home, and that my phone would die. I easily ran once again to 8.69 miles. Then my phone died. I got to... I am guessing around 9-9.5ish miles and then I started getting tired. I was almost home, but for the last bit I had to do a run/walk thing like I usually do.

But everything else was awesome. The only thing was, I misunderstood part of my path, and somehow accidentally skipped .5 of a mile. So I only ran 11.5 miles.

But that is still the furthest I have ever ran. And the best run ever. not the fastest. But I zoned out so easily.

And that is the most boring story you have ever read.

In one of those moods

I have these moods in which it feels like running is the world to me.

Right now I am in one of these moods.

ASDHFKJAWEHREWURNAC.

So yeah.

Running isn't easy. I am a normal runner until about 70-80% through my run. Then I get weird. I start getting angry. Or weird. Like singing out loud. Or making weird faces. Or doing weird dances. Or making weird strides. This only happens if my run is longer than 6-7 miles though.

Oh. I finally "ran" 10 miles.

When I go for runs, I never JUST straight run. I need to take walking breaks. I think the longest I have ever run is about 3 miles in a row. That was during one of my most "zoned out" runs ever. It was down by zwicks, around the time waterfront was on. It was fairly early in the morning, so I was looking at a lot of the things being set up and such. Also there was a 2k 5k 10k that day part of the heart and stroke foundation. It was starting at 10am. I was probably around there around 9am. So I took advantage of the signs that showed me their path. And ran it. Yeah. I'm pretty cool.

But that wasn't my 10 miler.

My 10 miler... I was fine. Until 8.08 miles. Then I was like going crazy. It was hot as hell. Which was my main problem. It was 35 degrees celsius at that point. I started out at 24 degrees. But I was just like dying from the heat. I wasn't dehydrated. I had already had a lot of water at that point.

At 8.48 miles I said to myself "I must keep running until (certain bush that I recognize on my run) or else (insert person who is close to me's name) will die.". Yes. This is how I push myself. I am not even kidding you. I get scared shitless and run like hell. I know its not real. But I am scared it could be. So I run. I did it too. At that point I got to about 9.20 miles. From then to the 10 miles I sort of walked/jogged.

But I still did it. Under 2 hours. Which was my goal. People have ran half-marathons heck, maybe even full marathons, faster than my time.

But I alway remember: There will always be slower runners than me, and faster runners than me. I should only be concerned about myself and be proud of the fact that I did 10 miles in under 2 hours.

In heat.

Am I boring you yet?

Tomorrow I am just doing a 4 miler. As I think I posted before, I have a running schedule. Except for the fact that I am doing my Wednesday as my Monday. So each day follows (Thursday is tuesday, friday is wednesday, etc). So basically I have every Wednesday and Saturday off from running, and some other odd days.

Tomorrow is 4 miles. The next day is 12. 12 Fucking miles. What the actual.

I am getting up to run at like 5am or 6am that day. I swear it. I will not be hot and dying.

I want to run in the rain. It looks like fun, as long as I am not wearing something that sucks if I get wet. Like something that will cause me a rash or absorbs the water and holds onto it.

Besides running, today I did Bi's and Tri's at the Gym. Tomorrow I am doing... back and butt? No. That can't be right. Yes. Yes it is. Okayyyy. Then.. Friday I am running 12 miles. And I need to go to the gym. I might run the 12 miles in the morning and hit the gym in the afternoon. So that way I won't be dying at the gym. I will do... legs? OH GOD. WHY. WHY ME. WHY ARE LEGS ON THE DAY I RUN 12 MILES!?!?!?! Ahhhh.

I usually group my muscles I work on into 2 different types. Legs I always do all parts of legs, quads, calves etc for one gym sesh.

Here are the things I do :
- All parts of my Legs
- Deltoids/Shoulders
- Chest
- Abs + Core
- Back
- Butt
- Biceps
- Triceps
- Forearms

That seems about it.. right? I don't know.
OH WAIT. I need to do abs. Maybe I'll do Abs on Friday...

Saturday I am not doing the gym. I am not sure if I have a run on Sunday. Oh wait. Yes I will. Hmm. We'll see.

I am actually going for a walk right now.

So yeah. Bye.
Thanks for listening to my rambling. Reading. Not listening. If you can currently hear me talking I suggest you go see a doctor or something.

Differences.

The Difference.

There is a difference between the following terms:
Healthy
Unhealthy

Although it may seem obvious, so many people are completely lost.

Healthy is being mentally and physically happy. Fit. Content.

Achieving health is complicated and difficult, yet not a hard concept to understand.
You need to eat healthy foods. Fruits, veggies, lean meats...
You need to eat unhealthy foods in moderation. You shouldn't rule them out, but just keep them in moderation.
You need to move your body. Whatever way you choose to, move it. Go for a walk. Jump up and down. Join a gym. Jumping jacks + pushups. Online videos. Go for a run. Who knows? You do.
You need to be generally happy. But I am not getting into that here.

In my opinion, unhealthy can go in many different directions-- in terms of diet and exercise.

1. You are eating too much, and not working out.
To break it down, you are essentially intaking more calories then you are burning, turning those calories into fat. This will make you gain weight, slow down your metabolism, give you crappy sleep, harder breathing, and many other health complications.

2. You are eating too much, and not working out enough.
This is essentially the same as the previous one, except here you aren't working out enough and you are still eating too much. If you work out, but you still are eating a lot, nothing is going to happen. Essentially you will either gradually lose weight, maintain weight, are gradually gain weight. Depending. If you go for a 20 minute run then reward yourself with a chocolate bar, you are going to gain weight. For a person around 125-130 pounds, a 20 minute run will burn approximately 200 calories, more or less. A chocolate bar is going to be hitting upwards of 300 calories- 800 calories. Do the math.


3. You aren't eating enough and you aren't working out enough.
Depending on your body shape, this can go many ways. But in general, this is terrible. If you are not eating, you are not giving your body the nutrients it needs to function. You are going to be fatigued, unhealthy, and disrespecting your own body. If you are simply on a crash diet, diet, with no exercise, it will not work. Your body needs calories and such to process. Honestly: sometimes people who don't eat enough, GAIN weight. Your body won't be gaining any strength or endurance what-so-ever if you don't work out. Essentially your body is just trying to survive here.

4. You aren't eating enough and you are working out too much.
Again, with the unhealthy, disrespecting your body, etc., by not eating your body isn't getting the nutrients it requires to function. If you are working out too much along with not eating enough, I can almost guarantee that you will lose weight. But what is the point of being skinny if you have bags under your eyes and are too tired.
You will ALWAYS be tired, even if you sleep 10 hours. If you aren't eating enough and you are working out a lot, you are likely going to pass out often. You need calories to function.
Its like trying to run a car with barely any gas. It will try to run and function for a bit, and may break down a bit, but eventually will stop running.
You need food.

If you can learn to eat healthy, and if you can learn to exercise appropriately, you will see results. Healthy results.

I would rather be 150 pounds and exercising often, and eating healthy and feeling GREAT than be 100 pounds and eating junk food and being lazy.

Move your body. You will feel better. Feeling GOOD should be your ultimate goal. Looking good is just a bonus.

There is also a difference between being healthy and being anorexic.

I am SICK AND TIRED of people (no matter what body shape) looking at me or people with identical lifestyles of eating healthy, and thinking we are anorexic because we eat lettuce, drink milk, eat apples and blueberries. Because we eat things like quinoa and drink healthy smoothies. I am not anorexic just because I haven't eaten ice cream in over a week, because I am choosing to eat HEALTHY. That is not anorexia.

I hate when people say things like "Do you want to be a twig?". No. I do not. I want to feel good physically. To feel good physically I must eat and exercise. I am gaining weight currently. Muscle. I am losing fat slower than I am gaining muscle, but I am doing both. I do not want to be a twig.

Also, that is offensive to people who are "twigs". That is actually really offensive and I am about to be, but there are people at the gym that are probably 100 pounds, with barely any muscle. But they go to the gym. They work out. They are healthy.

Just because someone is skinny doesn't mean they are healthy. We all know that one person who can eat whatever and still be skinny. They are no healthier than the over weight person doing the same.

Back to my point. Anorexia has nothing to do with being healthy.

I hate when I hear somebody saying something like "You need an ice cream! You need a chocolate bar! You can use it!".

Oh, I can "use" taking years off my life, and I can "use" the day after feeling less energetic.

Let me tell you, let's say today I ate a chocolate bar, didn't drink enough water, had 2 ice creams and a handful of jelly beans. In addition, I had my usual healthy things I eat (apples, cereal, yogurt, etc). Tomorrow on my run, I would feel it. Hardcore. I can feel these unhealthy things in my body.

This is my lifestyle. No you don't have to eat healthy all of the time. But it certainly does help.

No, just because I will not eat that fried Mars Bar, or I don't want to skip my workout today, that doesn't mean I am anorexic. I am doing it for health purposes. It doesn't hurt to eat that mars bar or skip my workout, but actually no, it does in the long run.

How many times have you said to yourself "I really regretted that work out" and how many times have you said "I should've worked out" "I should've started this early".

Exactly.

So next time your friend or co-worker or family member or fellow member of society, chooses a head of broccoli over a hamburger, don't call them anorexic.

Thank you.

Holy Crap.

I finally have something!

Everybody has there "thing" whether it be drama, dance, football, etc. Everybody has a hobby. Fitness is mine! Ahh! Not that I didn't know this. But its just that I am so happy I discovered that I have a hobby. Instead of saying "Psychology!". Haha.

This is going to be somewhat a random post. Just updates and such.

The Half-Marathon is in 38 Days! I found a 4-week plan to really get me there! Considering its basically 5 weeks until the Halfie, this will help me. Heres the plan:

So excited :)

Okay. Dare I do it? Yes. I am going to look back at my workout goals for the summer (gulp).

-> I want to be able to do at least 5 regular pushups by the end of the summer

DONE. HOLY SHIT. YES :)

-> I want to reach 20lb bicep curls (I'm at 15, and REALLY CLOSE basically at 17.5 right now) and 25 (I am at 17.5lbs)  pound on triceps

Nope. I haven't really moved up too much. I am at 17.5 in Bicep curls. But I still use the 15lbs just because it helps. I have used the 20 lbs, and I do a little everyday, but not enough.

And I think I am going to forget my tricep goal. I will just move up to 20 lbs. I don't know why I made that goal. 

-> I want to reach 300 pounds for my .. what the fuck is it called, the leg pushy thinger. I am smart. Right now I am at 255 lbs.

YESSSs. I can do it. I don't do it everyday. But I can do it. I usually do 275 or 295. But I have done 300. 

-> I want to reach 100 pounds for individual legs in the leg curl ones (I am at I think 75/60 depending on the day)

Maybe I need to train more on this. I haven't moved up.

-> I want to run 13.1 miles. (A half marathon)

Sooon :). The most I have run now is 9.4 miles.

-> I want to ride my bike to kingston

I may have to forget this one... with my marathon training it might not be smart.

-> I want to go to bike to the beach and swim at least 5 times this summer

I am thinking I will do this one next week. I have thought of it every day. I haven't been to the beach AT ALL. :(

Also, I talked on Sunday about my 21 Day plan of eating. Yesterday was a KILLER. I had cravings all day and I felt tired. I don't think I had enough calories in me. I had enough.. but I wasn't used to it. I guess. I don't know. 

But I am adding 2 more things to my list:

- Popcorn 

- Chocolate

I keep eating Popcorn. I was eating some chocolate chips with my almonds and so I need to stop with the chocolate. I didn't originally put chocolate in there, because a little bit of dark chocolate isn't bad for you. But I have been eating more chocolate since I started this. So no more chocolate for me.

Popcorn... Okay. I am not ruling this one out. But I am only allowing myself 4 bags / week. By bags, I mean the 100-cal bags. I have already had 4 this week though. Two yesterday. Which is not good. Popcorn isn't "healthy" but it is an extremely healthier option as opposed to chips or other snack foods. Still not the best.

Also. I created my profile on bodybuilding.com. I spend way to much time on that website browsing the products. Check er' out. http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/sarahfloria/

Anyways. I better go do some online school now. 

I WILL NOT be a hypocrite today.

Today I finally decided. 21 Day challenge of not eating bread/muffins/bagels, cookies/crackers, ice cream, pudding and popsicles!

These are the foods that I keep eating that really aren't that great for me. So for 21 Days I am NOT going to eat them.

I hav---
OH MY GOD. Literally my mom just walked into my room and asked if I wanted to go to Dairy Queen. OMFG. I would've. But nooo. I can't. I'm not.

The reason why I am not is because I need to stop. I realized the one thing that is really holding me back is my eating. I generally eat healthy, other than those things that are listed above.

The reason why it is for 21 Days, is because I read somewhere that not eating bread/carbs for 21 days makes a huge difference. Thats not exactly what I am doing, but I feel like this 3 week plan is a good guideline.

It is going to be hard. I will try not to cheat. I already accidentally had 1 cracker today, because I forgot. But no. I am going to fucking do this hardcore.

Now, if you know my thoughts on health and fitness, you know that I am not one for "diets". Diets are dumb. You need to make a LIFESTYLE change. So, This isn't just for 21 days.

It is just a kickoff...

After the three weeks are up (which will be killer) I will not eat muffins/bagels, cookies/crackers, ice cream, pudding and popsicles every day of the week, except one day, which will be my "cheat day".

Because if you are a health guru at all, you know that you do need cheat days. Your lifestyle change will not work. I always say you should never "eliminate" something completely from your diet. But these foods aren't the healthiest. So I am going to give myself 1 cheat day a week to eat those foods.

After the three weeks I will eat bread though. Its just I am not eating bread to go with the carb thing. I am still eating carbs... just for three weeks I am taking a break from all of the bread as well, even though it can be healthy, I think a break would do my body good. A good "Cleanse".

I haven't decided yet, but I don't think I am going to "define" my cheat day. Like say, Sunday is my cheat day! Etc. Because if I say Sunday is my cheat day, and I go out for dinner with my friends on Friday and I want an ice cream, I can't have one. So I will just do whatever date feels best. If someday a friend offers me a cookie, well I guess thats my cheat day.

Although, I think all of my friends know my 1 rule. I don't count ANYTHING on Holidays. Easter, Halloween, Christmas, New Years, Birthdays. I will eat whatever. Which is why on easter I always eat ALL of my candy. Yea. Its bad. But I just say calories don't count on holidays.

Although I never count calories. I think at the moment I am probably only burning 100 calories more than I am consuming. Just from a rough estimate.

Some days I eat almost 3000 calories (which is bad) and others I eat probably around 1200. It totally depends on the day and my appetite. But I don't sweat it that much.

BUT ALL OF THESE FOODS ARE GOING DOWWWN.

Oh. That reminds me. Back in Grade 9ish, I quit soda. I just don't drink pop anymore. Since then, I've probably had like 10 pops.

I like never eat candy or chocolate. Chips I never eat. I eat popcorn. I didn't put that on my list though, because the popcorn I eat is in 100 calorie bags. I am not going to add any flavour shakes to it though.

But I am going to rock the next 3 weeks. Maybe.

Run run run

RUNNING.

I have achieved some major goals in the past 2 weeks. I am so happy!

Just 2-3 weeks ago, I got back out on the road. I ran 6 miles. I almost died. I ran another 6 miles after that, then just decided to go straight for the 8 miler. I DID IT. Then I ran 3 miles on the treadmill. Then, this Monday, I ran 8.5 miles. Today I ran 9 miles!

This is happening! I am so excited!

My only problem is... my pace is slow. But I don't actually think its THAT bad. I use a phone app for my running.. and I do take breaks in my runs, I can't just run straight, I might walk for 30 seconds or so. So this screws up my "pace".

I'd really like to have a pace no more than 5:41 but ideally, I'd like to be at 5:07 (per KM), although thats not very realistic. I start off fast, then I get slower as I run. Which makes sense, but then that means I need to pace myself and not start fast and get slow. Currently my pace is at around 6:30.

I don't know. Once I have officially ran 13 miles (I am hoping by the end of this month, fingers crossed) I will work on my pace. So I can do well in the halfie! :)

Just put it this way... at my pace, now, if I were to have run the halfie last year (the same event) I would've gotten 26th / 30. Which isn't very good... I'd say.

At the pace I want to get to, I would get 16th/ 30th.

Getting 1st in my Gender would be AWESOME though. I would need to have that 5:07 pace.

See. I have endurance, but not speed with endurance. I also have strength and speed, but not with endurance.

Ugh.

I know my goal should be to simply *Finish* but that is not good enough for me. MUST. DO. MORE! >:D

Anyways. Guess what else? In August, I am no longer using music on my outdoor runs. Yep. You heard it. 0 iPod. I feel I could do that now. But only when I am running by the water. If I am running down dundas or something I need music.

But for the half-marathon, they recommend you don't listen to music, and if you do, you can only use 1 ear.

That might throw off my pace. I run faster to music. I don't want to run the half marathon with any music... but... if it does throw off my pace, I will.

Anyways, that is all for now.

Not running until at least Friday. Because. I need rest. My legs are going "SARAH Y U KILL ME".

Yes.

I am back in business! I am running the same amount I was before I injured my leg. So it took me what... 2-3 weeks to recover after I was aloud to start running. But yeah, I used to run about 6-7 miles, (not on the treadmill). I ran 6.1 miles today. So I consider myself officially back in business. I am going to aim for 7 or 8 miles on Tuesday morning. I think. Hopefully its not REALLY hot out then. 

I just want to run everyday! But my legs need rest. So I am going to wait until Tuesday to run next. I ran 6.1 outside today, and 6 miles yesterday on the treadmill. 

This should probably be on my other blog. My fitness blog. But I'll just continue here.

A Half-Marathon is 13.1 miles. I can do it. I know I can. Its just a matter of getting there. I have... less than 2 months left. Let me count the days. 49 days. I can so do it. 

But I am oddly having issues getting back into my "zoned out running mode". What I mean by this, is running without thinking about running. Because when you run, while thinking about running, everything becomes harder to do. And its hard to not think "Run slower, run faster, bounce more, stop pounding your feet so hard, breathe through your nose, your shorts are riding up, I'm thirsty" etc. But occasionally I can just think of other things, then running becomes easier.

Oh, I did some 100m dashes. The lines were sorta still on the track at Moira. So I decided to try it out. I didn't really have that legit of a stopwatch. But I ran the fastest time around 12.2 seconds. I was looking at average times online.. average for a runner is about 12-13, but basically you need to be under 11 seconds if you want to be good. I think I am going to train a lot more with the 100 m dashes. Go over to the track at moira like a weirdo. I ran 4 laps and 3 dashes there today. So I guess that was interesting. 

On the flipsideeee.

I realized that since I joined the gym, I am 100% more confidant with my body. I don't even feel like I look THAT different. Yes, I have more muscles. I haven't lost that much fat. SHIT. That reminds me. Tomorrow is my weigh-in/Body fat % check. But I just feel more confidant.

Like, I am willing to wear less clothes. BAHA. Sounds good. No, but I don't care about the little things as much. If I was ever sitting in a chair and my stomach would get a little bit squished by my pants, I used to freak. Now I don't care. 

I just think that I have made a complete 360. But landing in a different spot. So not a 360. Whatever, you get what I am saying. 

I just don't care the way I look as much anymore because I know I am healthy. I used to be unhealthy (as I have written at least 10 blog posts... most are deleted, about this topic, I am not going to repeat it), but now I am. I am happier now than I was then. Also, I am 15-20 pounds heavier than I was then. 

Also, now I can do pushups. 

THIS IS IT. BUT I HAVE SO MANY MORE THOUGHTS.

I have considered quitting sugar. I have considered quitting candy. But I am not sure. or Having "Meatless mondays". But I go days without meat anyways. Don't worry.. I certainly get my protein. SOY+GREEKYOGURT+PROTEIN POWDER FTW. 

Okay. Now. Bye 

That awkward moment when I haven't posted here in 26 days.

I have a lot of updates and things to talk about!

1st Off: I am off Running Rest! Did I mention that I injured my leg on my blog? I think so. But basically, I was an idiot. I ran 10km+ twice on the treadmill, then that Saturday (IN DEAD HEAT) I ran another 8ishkm. I wrecked my right shin + calve for a week, then tried running again, and failed. So I went to the doctor, and she told me to stay off of it for 3-4 weeks. Which I did.

I have run twice on the treadmill now. I have to start off slow... so I am. I ran 2.5miles my first time. Then I ran 3 miles and walked a bit and ran .5 miles. Which is sad compared to the fact I worked my way up to 7 miles. I know I can run 7 miles, I am just afraid I will wreck my leg.

Also....

I SIGNED UP FOR A HALF MARATHON. Yes, that is 13.1 miles. I am running it September 1st in Ottawa! Its a night time half-marathon. So I start running at 7pm. I am hoping to have a run time of about 1:48:00.0.

It'll be a long day that day.

Anyways, now I have a bit more of a sports psychology post. Not quite, but borderline.

I watch someone on youtube called ShayCarl. He recently lost 100pounds and he makes videos about his weight loss and health tips, etc. One of his videos sparked a thought in my head.

Many people try to be inspirational to a person, to tell them to get in shape... by telling them to get into shape. Example: Let's say your Dad is overweight, and you want him to be healthier, so you tell him to exercise and eat less chips. Do you think he is going to? Probably not.

For a person to be inspired by someone, they need to see examples, and not just witness, but experience and interact with them. Not even an example of someone who went through something like weight loss, but just anyone successful in being healthy.

I have noticed this more and more that I think about it.

Ever since I joined the gym, I have noticed at least 3 of my friends changing either what they eat, or their exercise patterns.

Before I joined the gym, I would work out, ride my bike, I started running back in november, but I mostly just did Pilates and workout videos at home. Once I joined the gym, I became even more inspired to be healthier and work out more, simply from seeing everyone else.

Its not like I see a girl's body and think "I want to be like her" its more like I see someone or hear someone talking about being healthy and I think "I am going to do that".

And my mom, oh goodness. She is getting a lot healthier. Its actually amazing. She's getting her blood pressure and diabetes under control. She hasn't lost that much WEIGHT but her body fat % has gone down, which is what it should be doing.

Not just that, but now that my mom and I are both healthier, if you look in our fridge/cupboard, it is 85% healthy. In our fridge we have milk, juice, protein drink, watermelon, blueberries, greek yogurt,... its actually such a change. Thats not all, thats just an example.

The most unhealthy thing in our house right now (Besides a jar of sugar or a bag of chocolate chip cookies, from baking) is probably the popsicles in our freezer.

I am actually so amazed by seeing this chain reaction.

Anyways, that is all.

Oh, P.S. I was taking photos of myself the other day. I didn't realize I had back muscle until then. I was just taking photos and wanted to see what my dress looked like from the back and I was like WHOA WTF. I was happy.

Quote: Between every before and after photo is a lot of "I can't do it"s and "It is too hard"s, but also included are a lot of pep talks and life-changing realizations.

I'm afraid I am/ I will over-do it. SUMMER GOALS (Again?!)

So right now I am on running rest. The doc told me 2-3 weeks, but I am waiting until exams or over.. or basically once exams start. I might like do a quick run to and from my exams (lol at 5 minute runs) but just because it boosts my energy level for a bit.

But from missing out on running, I do need to start slow. I mean, 5 minutes is really short, but hey!

I am so afraid that I am going to over do it this summer working out. But I am just so pumped!

I am going to get really intense into it. Then back in September, I will hopefully maintain it.

I am planning on ordering my shit that I have been wanting from Bodybuilding.com on like June 8th, after my next paycheque, but also by then I will have my credit card. Yes, a credit card, joint with my mom.

So that way I will have my shit by the end of the month.

But I want to work out a lot, I am going to look into exactly what is healthy and how much is too much.

But I guess I will just keep my eyes out for the warning signs of too much.

I just have so many goals! Endurance and strength.

-> I want to be able to do at least 5 regular pushups by the end of the summer
-> I want to reach 20lb bicep curls (I'm at 15, and REALLY CLOSE basically at 17.5 right now) and 25 (I am at 17.5lbs)  pound on triceps
-> I want to reach 300 pounds for my .. what the fuck is it called, the leg pushy thinger. I am smart. Right now I am at 255 lbs.
-> I want to reach 100 pounds for individual legs in the leg curl ones (I am at I think 75/60 depending on the day)
-> I want to run 13.1 miles. (A half marathon)
-> I want to ride my bike to kingston
-> I want to go to bike to the beach and swim at least 5 times this summer

I am not 100% how often I am going to the gym. But I am going to do more focus muscle groups. Like go to the gym for a while just focusing on one muscle group. Usually I go and spend 20-30 minutes on each arms, abs and legs. I might go and spend like an hour an a half on my abs.

I am going to start recording down my results and my progress in some form of journal.

My eating habits are going to change more again too. Like, the days I go to the beach, I am going to be sooo tired and losing so much energy by biking there and back and swimming while I am there. Plus the sun makes me tired sometimes. So I am going to be loading in the carbs and protein and calories. Not to mention energy shots.

I was thinking I might do like 3 days on 1 day off, all summer, for workouts. But I might just do something like I don't go every Tuesday and Saturday, etc. I haven't decided yet.

I won't push myself if I am tired though. If I wake up and feel like dying, I am just going be like... okay, break time.

Plus I am also doing online school, and I have my two jobs. Also, I do have a life besides gym, school and jobs. I am also planning on reading. But yeah, I need to chill with friends more, I never chill that much with friends in the summer.

But I plan on reading a book a week. (Yikes!) But I can do it. I will just take the book, divide the number of pages by 7, and read that many pages a day. During breakfast, before bed... at the Cafe I have a tonne of time too. so I can read them.

Gym Probs: I go to the gym and weigh myself before I workout: 127 pounds. After my workout: 129 pounds. Drinking a lot of water probs.

Afterthought- I wonder how much I will weigh by the end of the summer. I have already gained 10 pounds of muscle. But I wonder if I will hit 130 before the end of the summer. It is highly possible.

Updates!

Hey!

I haven't blogged on here in about 16 days! I have a few updates to talk about.

Last week I had a really weak week (haha that made me laugh) at the gym. I had 1 really good day, one average day, I missed one day because of homework and I had my worst gym day ever. I gained 2 pounds last week, I actually think its likely to be fat. Oh well. It doesn't bother me too much.

But this week has been good. Sunday was suckish because my shin splint was acting up so I ended up walking on the treadmill instead of running. Monday I ran 7 miles in under an hour, which is a new record! And Today (Wednesday) I did the same thing, except ran it 10 seconds faster. 10 Seconds. Wow. Thats actually funny.

I think I have announced this before, but NOW its official, I am now using 15 pound freeweights from bicep curls! I started off at 8 pounds! Thats so crazy! I am so happy! :)

Also last month I started working out my shoulders more. I went from 5 pounds to 12.5 pounds in free weights in about a month. Which is actually awesome.

Besides updates, I am going to blog about "imbalances".

I am not talking about the imbalance that is like, for example, having more bicep then tricep, resulting in injury.

I am talking more symmetrical. Like having your right quad stronger then your left quad.

I have noticed a lot of muscle imbalances where one side of my body is slightly stronger then my other.

Its weird because my right side (for the most part) is stronger then my left. And I am left handed. I just think thats odd.

But my left bicep, is stronger than my right. Maybe my shoulder and my arm in general. But my back, chest, and leg is stronger on my right side.

If you watch me run you can see that my right leg has more visible muscle and is slightly slimmer. I can't figure out how I am running wrong for my leg to be like this. I think it may be happening unconscious when I zone out while running, or something.

But it is annoying. But all I do to correct it is that sometimes when I feel that my one side of my body is getting stronger, I don't start using a heavier weight, I wait for the other side to catch up. Which I am not sure if thats what you are supposed to do, it makes sense though.

Well that is all for now.

Oh, I am drinking a lot more water now :)


Workout tip: When you go to work out a muscle group, workout the one you feel like FIRST, it always gets you more pumped. So if you are in the mood to do arms after cardio, do arms first. You don't need to follow the pattern down to up (legs then butt then abs then arms, etc), it doesn't actually do anything for you. Or mix it up and do one abs move, then a leg move then arms, then back to abs, etc.

P.S. I am SLOWLY getting abs. Really slowly. :) If I run and flex after you can see :)

Fucking Water.

Hydration Nation is Sarah's Station. This is lame already. I NEED TO DRINK MORE WATER. I know this for a freaking scientific fact. God fucking dammit. I am never hydrated enough. But I am never dehydrated. I am going to start drinking water at school now. And everywhere. Literally everywhere. I need it especially since I am running so much now. Ugh. Do you know what is annoying? Carrying water while running. Do you know what is annoying? Being thirsty as fuck and having no water while running. Its a lose-lose situation. RUNNING UPDATE! I have now officially ran 10.3km. (On the treadmill) the most I have ran on land is 9.2km. I am going to do 10km on land on Saturday... if theres good weather. I did 8.3km on sunday on land and the 10.3km monday. Tomorrow I am going to the gym again. I am going to aim for 10km again. I think thats good, just always aiming for 10km. Now my next major goal is running for over an hour. Because all of these goals I have completed in under an hour. So I guess that'd be about 15kmish. I need to start training for speed too. Its just so awkward running really fast. I would like to train for speed at night. Just like sprinting up and down Haig or Farley or something. So yeah, if you see some random chick sprinting down haig... ahahhah. Right. Okay. I am actually soo hyped. So, I said I wanted to run a marathon by the time I was 21.. but I think I can do it before the end of highschool! I might run next year's Toronto Marathon. This year's is this Sunday! Obviously since a marathon is 26.2 miles and the most I have ran is 6.4 miles....I'm not ready. But by the end of the summer I am hoping to be able to run at least a half-marathon.. maybe not an actual marathon, but just on my own, being able to run 13.1 miles. ' I just ate some ice cream and I feel so sick. This is what happens when you get on a health kick then get a craving for icecream and then eat it. Just ew. This is the weirdest thing ever. It is just grossing me out. I was honestly so tempted to puke it up, just because it makes me feel like puking, not even because I am afraid of gaining weight. But I am just drinking a lot of water (YAY) instead. Wash that motha'fuckin' shit down. Obviously this is a professional blog. Blah blah, blah, blah. Toodaloo. Go run a mile. The next time you have time. I dare you.

OH MY MARATHON.

I can't stop thinking about running.

I just want to run a Marathon soooo bad.

Running is coming along wayy too easy. Not really. But I always hear people say, you just gotta take it slow and steady and be patient. Run a little further each time, etc. I am doing that, but it is definitely a lot faster than I expected.

I have new Running Goals now. I already completed the Running 8k one.

And that was supposed to be by the end of the summer. So, by the end of the Summer I want to run 13.1 miles without stopping in less then 2 hours.

Thats a half-marathon, in half of the time it takes the average man to complete a marathon.

OH MY GOD. THERE IS A HALF MARATHON/10KM or 5KM IN QUINTE WEST ON THE 29th of THIS GODDAM MONTH.

I sooo want to sign up for the 10 km. I haven't run 10km yet. Fuck. Thats... SOOOOO soon. I'll have to talk it out with my mom. But I think I will try to run 10km tomorrow. If I can do it, then great. If not, I don't think I really want to sign up for a 5km run...

I HAVE UNTIL THURSDAY TO FUCKING REGISTER! YES! I might do it! its $40 to do it. Its towards some charity. Ahhh I'm so excited.

Fuuuck. YES.


Hmm. Now what is my brain up to.

Not sure.

But I also made another goal. I want to go swimming 10 times this summer. Like, not just sitting around in a lake or a pool. Legit swimming. I want to go.. maybe once every 2 weeks? Ooh. That would mean 5 times. Thats not good enough. I'm going to aim for 10 times.

I'm so random. Lol.

ALSO. I am making a goal to ride my bike to.. Kingston? Maybe. I'm not sure if my mom will let me.

But fuuuck I want to.

I am just so hyper about all of this. I am obsessed. If I run 10k twice before Thursday, I am going to run that 10k. I have timeish. I will do it tomorrow and... Monday? Oh so excited!

Goood.

Okay.

Well. Get trainin', yo.

Oh My CINNAMON.

I do the Cinnamon challenge. Not the whole Cinnamon challenge. But like. 1/3 of the cinnamon challenge some days. With water. Obviously.

But why? It makes me feel AMAZING. Cinnamon does dry your mouth out, but if you have like .5 tsp of Cinnamon in the morning or before you go to bed with a few sips of water, its completely fine.

Why do I do this? I am not 100% sure. I know it is an antioxidant, and it helps with lots of other bodily functions. It makes me feel more alert sometimes too. I just like it. It pumps me for the day.

Anyways. STRENTH UPDATE.

Wow, I can definately spell strength correctly. And Definitely. God.

Today I was so proud of myself at the gym. I was doing bicep curls with 15 pound freeweights instead of 12.5. Keep in mind that when I joined the gym I started off at 8lbs. My triceps I do 17.5 weights. My shoulders are a mix of 10lb and 12.5 lbs. My triceps have become the strongest out of parts of my arms. I started off with 10lbs with those. But they are just stronger then the other parts of my arms.

My legs. As I have mentioned... somewhere before I was doing 215lbs on this one machine that you push out on... almost like a sitting squat. Its hard to explain. But now I am doing 235lbs. YAY! :)

My lower back went from about 75lbs to 125lbs. I guess thats my biggest improvement, but it doesn't really effect me too much.

My hip abductors are always the same though! I started at 80lbs. But now I do either 95lbs or 100lbs depending on the day, for like the past month. I am sososo confused. Whatever.

Anyways. I FINALLY RAN 5 MILES! Guess what that fucking means? I FUCKING RAN 8KM. GUESS WHAT THE FUCK THAT MEANS?!?!? I COMPLETED MY FUCKING GOAL OF RUNNING 8KM BEFORE THE SUMMER WAS OUT. But I still haven't ran that distance... outside. But ya wanna know why 8KM? I don't think I've mentioned it before. Its about an 8.3km walk from my house to goodlife. So thats why.

Fuck yea. I can now run 5k marathons. Almost 10k. I probably could.

But what else rocked today? Some random dude said to me "You're a machine! I could never do that!" referring to me (at that moment) I had ran about 3.4miles in about 30 minutes. And he said "You have my kudos". Wow. That actually made my daayyyy.

Also. I got a new Goodlife jacket. I have had my eyes on it for about a month, but it was $150. LIKE WTFFFF? Then it was like 33% off. Then they had 2 left. Two XS left. I tried it on. It fit. But guess what? It was only $25. FUCK FUCK YEAH! I got it. Obviously. Its really great for jogging in. Too bad its getting warm out. But whatever, I hope my ass doesn't grow any larger, thats the only part where its somewhat tight.

So.... yeah. That is all.

Protein+ Creatine + Caffeine

I am here to talk about Vitamins, supplements and such.

First of all: I don't take vitamins. I do own some Calcium/Vitamin D pills and some zinc pills. I have taken a couple, but I am not really into taking pills and stuff like that. I just figure, if you need that stuff, get it from food. Good whole food.

Plus I know that if you have too many vitamins, your body can only tolerate high concentrations of maybe 2 or 3 vitamins at a time, and everything else you just pee out, so its a waste.

So I don't take Vitamins.

I do take protein. I like protein shakes. I also really like this Gatorade stuff. Heres why I take protein:
It helps with muscle.

I have heard from various people and sources that it can make you gain weight, but that is more like if you are eating protein with a high-calorie regimen? Is that the word I am looking for? But anyways, if you are a girl and want protein, take it with as little calories as you can. I know that the average scoop of protein of about 15-25gs is about 120-180 calories. Which is perfectly fine.

Okay, but when do you take it? Most people take protein AFTER a workout. Within 30 minutes. But it is also suggested to take some before you workout. When I first started I always took it before. Then I started doing just after. But now I will do something like eat jerky before and then drink something afterwords. I always take the drink because it also loads me up on calories fast-- which I have usually burned off way too many, so I need some to function.

But WHY do you take protein. Well, after a workout, you have a prime opportunity to consume protein to promote muscle growth. Protein helps repair body tissues, which makes your muscles larger. Protein also can help with energy as well.

But you shouldn't JUST protein only at that time of the day, when you workout. You should have it in every meal, because whether you are working out or not, protein is required for you body. I have lots of yogurt, nuts and soy (I hate soy but I tolerate it anyways if its flavoured) that has lots of protein in it. Actually, the best kind of protein I have heard is in eggs and milk. Chocolate milk has a lot of protein too. Eggs do too.

Wait. Random thing: I don't like eggs. Well, I do. They are tasty. But I only eat egg whites now. Why? The yolk.. is VERY HIGH VERRY extremely high in cholestorol. In fact-- over the amount you should really consume in one day. But the egg itself is high in protein and low in calorie, which is good. Which is why I only suggest the egg white, because the egg white has 0 Cholestorol.

Anyways, I am done talking about Protein. Now I want to talk about Creatine.

I still don't fully understand creatine. But basically it is a supplement used to body build. It lets you do more reps, helps restore muscle, helps hydrate muscle and such, but it is more intense then protein. It does NOT build muscle, like protein, it just helps with the processes of building muscle. Building muscle comes from lifting weights and such. Obviously.

I am not on Creatine right now, but I have considered it. But again--- this is only for body building, really. But it doesn't always work for everyone, you have to know how and when to take it. I know that if you take it too much your body finds it useless and does nothing with it. You have to go through cycled amounts and such.

I don't want to bodybuild, but I would like to build more muscle faster. I might try it once in a month this summer, but I am not sure yet.

Anyways, so thats all I am saying about Creatine. Google it if you want to know more.

Caffeine. Caffeine is something I have been confused about. People always say "Don't take caffeine before you work out" and I know caffeine can dehydrate you. But caffeine does improve my energy level while I am working out... so this is a toughie.

From what I have read, in general Caffeine is good for your energy levels and such. So maybe its not a bad idea if I have caffeine before I workout. I just need to drink more water if it is dehydrating me.

By "caffeine" I don't mean like shots of caffeine, I just mean like a cup of coffee or something.

Marathon.

I want to talk more about running a marathon.

I have talked about it and thought about it a lot.

Basically all I have said is that I want to run a marathon by the time I am 21.

I was thinking "I'll start training this summer". But no, its already started--- which is a good thing.

Heres some advice: If you have a goal you want to achieve, start NOW. Don't think "I will start tomorrow. Or the beginning of the month". Why? Because you obviously don't want it that bad. Yes, I understand it might be cooler to say "I started May 1st!" Well whats so different about may 1st and today? Not much. So just start now. I have NEVER completed a goal that had a significant date to remember. I remember thinking when I did my "life cleanse" (which I talked about in my other blog a while ago) that I was trying to set a date, but it just wasn't working. So then I just sort of started sometime in the beginning of November.

Anyways. A Marathon is 26.2 miles. The most amount of miles I have run consecutively is slightly over 4 miles. Yikes.

But I am training! As I said. I was thinking I will increase my endurance by .4 miles each time, but that is fine, right? Yeah, sure. But I get so bored.

If I am not getting tired of running, I am certainly getting bored. I need to run more outside. The other day I went for a jog and I was like OMG I CAN JOG!

But there are 3 things I know I need to do.

1) Increase my endurance. Its obvious that I need to be able to run longer.

2) Increase my speed. At the speed I am going, I will finish the marathon in like 7hours. Yeah. Thats not good. I should be finishing it in 4 hours. But its not that I am running slow, its just that sometimes I will take a break or walk for 30 seconds so it throws off my timing and shit.

3) Run outside.

The other day when I went for a jog, I decided to sprint for a moment, just to do it, because I haven't in sooo long. I was like OMFG HOW FUCKING FAST AM I GOING?I couldn't keep it up for too long, but I ran from Haig to the end of this one street that leads to mine. I didn't time it or anything. But I was just like Who knew I could run this fast?

Before I am done high school I want to run a 10k or 5k. Theres one in... Trenton? Picton? I forget. But its like this weekend, or soon, or happened already. I might do the one next year. Didn't I say I wanted to run 8km straight by the end of the summer? I think I will accomplish this.

Its just going so slow. Once I start getting super serious I want to get some form of trainer or someone to analyze my running to tell me what I can do better. But that won't be for years. Should be now, but I am just getting used to things.

When I first started running I could barely run for over 4 minutes in a row. Now I can run for about 40 minutes, with maybe 3 really quick 10 second stops just for water or to stretch my back or legs.

I think tomorrow since I have work until 5 (the gym closes at like 6 or something on Saturday) I will go for a run. I need a timer. or a fancy watch or something. I used to have this app on my old phone that was PERFECT. It had a GPS, told you your time, speed, average speed, etc. It was awesome. But I no longer have my old phone (obvi).

So... yeah.

Next goal: Run 4.5 Miles without stopping (besides my 10 second stretching/water etcs).

My Weight.

I have so many plans for this blog! I am actually so excited for it! I decided that I might connect it to a Youtube account. Like I will make my blog a bigger thing. This blog. I want to do youtube videos about health and fitness as well.

I have so many ideas!

But as I have promised--- here is my blog about WEIGHT.

Weight.

I always freaked out about the number. I HATE repeating this story, but just in case other people are reading this that haven't heard the story, read ahead. If you have, just skip it.

Since grade 8... even before. I'd even say, grade 6. I have been curious about weight loss. Now heres the scary thing: When I FIRST decided to start "dieting" I weighed about 103 pounds. Yeah. Scary. I was 11 or 12. It never really got too serious until Grade 8 though. Then I weighed about 107 pounds. But I remember, the thing that triggered me to lose weight--- was seeing 114 on the scale. Or something like that. I flipped. Then I went down to about 104. At this point in grade 8, I specifically remember hating my thighs being thick (they weren't) and I hated how my stomach "poked out" more and so I wouldn't wear many tight shirts. Since grade 8 grad was coming up, I started eating the bare minimum. This was the worst I ever got though. I still struggled with being able to eat and excersize healthily in grade 9. But part way through grade 10, I realized. But even then, I didn't.

this story is new to friends who know:
Besides that incident in Grade 8 of me barely eating any Calories (like 800-1200 a day, which I shouldv'e have AT LEAST 1600), there was one other thing I JUST realized about a month ago. I remember throughout Grade 9 and 10, especially grade 10, there was one thing I would do that was scary. I didn't even really FULL ON realize and remember until a month ago--- I would say to myself "Okay. I am 116 pounds. If I EVER get to 120, I am not eating and I am throwing up my food.". But heres the catch: I would reach 120, then say "If I EVER reach 125, I am NOT eating. Only working out". I would never get this far. Occasionally I would try to throw up my food-- but never successful. I would chicken out or not be able to. For the record- I have never purposely starved myself... for over 8 hours. And that was to naively teach my mom a point (I am dumb).

Anyways. Now I am here. Here? Where?

Well. Let me tell you THIS years story.

Exams. I always gain weight around them. In January, I weighed about 117-119 pounds (differing on the day). By the end of exams, I weighed 123 pounds. I gained about 3-5 poundsish. I don't remember. At this point I was like. Oh. Okay. I am going to join the gym now (I was considering joining a gym since November).

When I joined the Gym, I lost 6 pounds in next to no time. I reached about 117/118 pounds.

Not even a month after I joined the gym I decided--- I want to pack on some muscle. I want to be healthy. I am doing this to be healthy. I want muscle.

A month or so later, I checked the scale. I was about 122-123 pounds. I thought absolutely nothing of it. Nothing of it. I was like. Oh. Okay. Hey there muscle.

Yesterday (about 2 months after joining the gym, a little more then 2 months, actually) I weighed myself. Guess what I saw? 127.5 pounds. I was so happy. Happy? WHAT. THE MOST I HAVE EVER WEIGHED. I was celebrating. Happy. Exstatic. 10 Pounds of muscle in basically two months.. is literally amazing. For a woman. AMAZING.

But then today I weighed myself. Apparently I am 125.5 pounds. Well. 2 Pounds was obviously water weight or something. And.. I WAS SAD. I WAS LIKE WHAT?!?. I have only gained 8 pounds of muscle?

I love how this has changed so much.

I eat more now too. Actually, no. Thats a lie. I eat HEALTHIER now. I will have apples and oranges GALORE. I am obsessed with them. I eat so many healthy foods. I pack on the protein, lay-low on the calories and cholestorol, and keep my eye on iron and zinc levels in foods.

I am not a "Body builder" persay. I don't want to be an extreme body builder. But I am, in a way. Just because I am trying to get stronger and more muscular. But at a certain point, I am not increasing my reps or my amount of weight and such. I will just *hopefully* know when to stop.

But I have heard that once you start, you can't stop.

Anyways. Here are a list of future blog topics (or videos) I will be making:
- Running/Jogging
- Creatine+ whether or not I will start it/opinions of it.
- Protein + supplements
- Goal Updates
- How to stay motivated

My 1st Post

Hey. So my name is Sarah.

Just to get to know me, I found this fitness Questionnaire online I am going to do. Do your own, and post it in the comments :)


WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Probably not. I'd rather Jump out of a plane with a parachute.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I LOVEEE Mutigrain cheerios. But recently I have been adding some Kashi cereal to it too!

DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
depends on the shoes. Usually not.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Parts of my body. My legs? Yes. My arms? No.

WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOUR BODY/SELF?
Excessive hairyness. :( (TMI).

WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Danactive Blueberry yogurt.

STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?
Love both. Need both. Prefer cardio.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE AB EXERSIZE?
Favourite? Like I like them? Haha jk. I love a bunch of random sit ups and such. I love doing a reverse crunch with my legs straight in the air while crunching my torso forward. That really hits it.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HEALTHY FOOD?
Apples and Oranges :)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FITNESS REGRET?
Not joining the Gym sooner!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT?
Cycling and dancing! ooh. and running.

BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE?
M&Ms, icecream, cherry cheesecake!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING OUT FOR?
I have been since 2008/2009. Really early on. But I got more and more serious as I went on. I started getting super serious.. maybe spring/summer last year? I have been getting SUPER DUPER serious recently.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING TO DO FOR CARDIO?
Running/Biking!

HARDEST THING FOR YOU TO KEEP FOCUSED ON WHILE WORKING OUT?
Arms and Abs. I wimp out so fast somedays.

WHAT ARE YOUR FITNESS GOALS?
Sooo many. Okay. Lets make this a new section..


My fitness goals.

1. I want to run a marathon by the Time I am 21.

2. I want to be able to do 49 push ups.

3. I want visible abs.

4. I want to become more flexible and balanced.

These are the only ones I can remember now.

But thats its for my first post.

NEXT POST WILL BE ABOUT MY WEIGHT! :)