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! :)