Lazy Weekend

Your comments were incredible in my last post. I hope you guys know how beautiful and strong you are. It’s true.

What a lazy weekend I had.

I went shopping…

Check out my new watch, yo.

I also got some new V-neck shirts from Victoria’s Secret and Target as well as Pac Sun. Then, I got another pair of tempo shorts to add to my collection.

Read until I fell asleep…

I drunk a lot of ice coffee…

Thank you, Starbucks, for spelling my name correctly. 

Ate a lot…

 I am never  going back to regular ice cream again.
Eggs + mushroom leek tart + potato knish

Moreover, I decided to add more weight lifting days in my schedule.

On days that I lift, I will only run for an hour or less (if it’s an easy run day). I really do love lifting and it’s obvious I have gained muscle.

I believe I gained eight pounds in the past few weeks. Initially, I had no idea why. I mean, I was eating the same and working out the same so why was I gaining? Why all of a sudden would I gain weight like crazy? It had to be muscle because I went to shopping and I still fit in all the same sizes. At Forever 21, I could fit in a double zero or zero. (They are cheaply made clothes though.) Then, at Lucky’s, I could fit in a zero. Sorry if a size zero is shocking to you, but it’s what I am. I use to be a size 9 so… whatever.

Anyway, I love lifting weights. However, I hate the weight lifting routines or whatever you want to call them in Women’s Health Magazine. Fitness and Shape have worse examples. They literally say grab a five-pound dumbbell and do a rep 898484 times. Literally that number, guys.

Men’s Health Magazine, on the other hand, has great workouts. My brother gets the magazine, but I end up ‘borrowing’ it from him. I really do not think he uses it, to be honest (not rude), because he beer belly still exists. That’s beside the point. Men’s Health Magazine is for anyone who is serious about lifting and fitness in general. Also, the meal plans are awesome. They are not 1,500 calories, but hell of a lot more.

Besides, Men’s Health puts rather attractive men on the cover.

I know this week, thanks to Men’s Health, I will be doing this upper body workout. If I’m going to be a Marine, I need some arm strength.

WEEKLY PROGRESS TEST
EXERCISE		SETS	REPS
1	Inverted Row	1	As many reps as you can in 30 seconds. Retest weekly.

WORKOUT 1 (WEEK 1)
EXERCISE		SETS	REPS	REST
1	Deadlift	3	3	60 s
2A	Pullup	3	6-8	0 s
2B	Back Raise	3	6-8	60 s

WORKOUT 2 (WEEK 2)
EXERCISE		SETS	REPS	REST
1	Deadlift	3	3-5	60 s
2A	Inverted Row	3	10	0 s
2B	Lat Pulldown	3	10-12	60 s

WORKOUT 3 (WEEK 3)
EXERCISE		SETS	REPS	REST
1A	Scapula Pulldown	4	10	0 s
1B	Barbell Shrug	4	12	0 s
1C	Back Raise	4	12	90 s

WORKOUT 4 (WEEK 4)
EXERCISE		SETS	REPS	REST
1A	Face Pull	3	6-10	0 s
1B	Lat Pulldown	3	8-15	0 s
1C	Back Raise	3	10-15	90 s

  The Payoff   

• Bigger Muscle This workout trains your rear deltoids, rhomboids, and trapezius—all commonly neglected muscles of your upper body. By shoring up these weak spots, you’ll pack on muscle and build a more symmetrical physique. 
• A Wider Upper Back The pullup and lat pulldown in this workout are slightly different from standard versions. You’ll initiate each move by sliding your shoulder blades down. This allows your lats to contract through a larger range of motion, so they develop fully. 
• Total-Body Strength The deadlift is more than just a muscle builder for your lower back and hamstrings. It strengthens your back from top to bottom and conditions your “posterior chain”—all the muscles on the back of your body—to work in coordination.

Week in Review:

Monday: 9.61 miles @ 7.0 average pace
Tuesday: 10.41 miles @ 7:11 average pace (it was hella hot and I didn’t expect to go that long)
Wednesday: 5.15 miles @ 7:03 average pace
Thursday: 11.53 miles @ 6:53 average pace
Friday: Weights + Elliptical
Saturday: 13.66 mile trail run @ whatever pace. My watch says 7:48, but that would be feel like walking for me so I don’t think that is correct.
Sunday: Weight class + 15 minute spin class (I was bored so I left) + 4-5 mile run (I didn’t have my Garmin) + elliptical to cool down
Total mileage: 50.36 plus 4-5 miles 

Hell yeah! In the 50’s finally even though my first three runs of the week were slow. I didn’t really focus on my pace as much as I didn’t my mileage. So, this week I should really focus on both. 

Have a good second week of August!

“Now bid me run, And I will strive things impossible.”
– William Shakespear, Julius Caesar

Running Shoes > Regular Shoes

I wish I had miracle news and could say my foot is all better, but it’s not. I did roll it out today, did some stretching, and iced. I am hoping for anything at this point. This is the second time and I am sick of it.

Whateva, whateva. Time goes on. No need to call the waaahhhhh-bulance.

I’ve been doing some shoe research and narrowed it down to these bad boys that may help my plantar fasciitis:

   New Balance 890 

“Engineered from the ground up, the neutral 890 is a new kind of lightweight shoe, each part designed with purpose. The full ground contact outsole is just as compatible with midfoot and forefoot strikes as it is with a traditional heel strike. Innovative diamond shapes cut in relief from the extra-durable REVlite midsole provide as much function as fashion, and the coordinating diamond motif on the outsole helps with grip and transition.”

I like the fact that they have flat laces that slide through uniquely flat lacing holes, locking them in place and preventing top-of-foot discomfort. I actually really, really like these.

Women’s Saucony ProGrid Guide 4

“The perfect everyday training shoe, the ProGrid Guide 4 is the next rendition of the award-winning ProGrid Guide 3. Ideal for light stability runners, the Guide 4 offers a dual density midsole for motion control and support throughout the entire gait cycle – ensuring a great run every time!”

I’m somewhat iffy on these.

Saucony ProGrid Mirage 

“This shoe combines midsole heights often associated with a racing shoe, but provides enough cushioning and protection for daily running. The result is a light weight trainer that provides a smooth ride and with a touch of support, the Mirage works well for neutral runners or mild over-pronators.”

Those are it for now. What running shoe works best for you? And, if you suffered from a running injury such as plantar fasciitis, what running shoe helped?

——————————————————————————————

Good thing I got a job and a second interview for another job on Tuesday because I have a huge wishlist.

I definitely want an iPhone.

Another pair of Vans. I have like ten or so. If I’m not wearing running shoes, I am in a pair of Vans.
 Hello! I need summer clothes. More shorty shorts and rompers please.
 And I need to load up on protein. I wish I could find all the awesomesauce flavors you guys get like cake mix or whatever.
Well, the rest of my Saturday is going to be spent at the mall and eating food that may include Dairy Queen’s blizzard of the month. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself.

Have a good weekend!

Honorable eats from a shitty phone:

Starbuck’s egg white + spinach + feta wrap

Iced coffee
Sushi x 4854

Question of today:

What’s on your wishlist? 

Working Chick

I mentioned not too long ago that I got a job. Basically I move senior citizens to retirement homes. I pack boxes, unpack boxes, and walk to and from rooms in retirement homes. It’s simple honestly. You know me and the old people… we are like bffs except when they get all crabby because they don’t like change and never want to part with any of their shit antiques.

I work every day next week and I worked two days this week already. I now have some more money. Holla! I’m just exhausted. I wake up before six, shower, eat, clean the house, go to work, come home, workout, come back home, clean, eat, and hopefully get to bed before 10:30. I don’t want any sympathy because I understand this is life. People work. Get over it.

Fortunately, yesterday I attended a little seminar on running. It covered the foot and injuries as well as barefoot running. The more I learned about running injuries, the more I think I have plantar fasciitis. However, my heel doesn’t hurt. It’s more the side of my foot and the top on the right side. It is not necessarily painful, but it doesn’t feel right. You know? This time it’s the right side when a month ago I believe it was the left. Again, I’m icing and not  running even though I have a half marathon on July 4th.

I am doing these stretches for my foot that the seminar recommended. It just pisses me off to no end. How come last week I had an amazing running week and then BAM! It’s over.

I switched back to super old shoes (that have hundreds of miles on them) because my Green Silences

killed my knee. I need new shoes again. I am not running until I get some. Hey! I have a job now so…

Any shoe recommendations for plantar fasciitis OR just shoes that work best for medium arched runners? No Nikes please. 

I’m also loaded in the bank currently thanks to getting money from my godmother and brother’s girlfriend. Then, I get money for every A on my report card. I have 5 A’s and two B’s.

Perhaps I’ll spend the rest of my money (yes, I’ll save some) on an iPhone. I’ve been wanting one for so long. I don’t know if it’s worth it though since I don’t text a lot.

As if I’m not busy enough, I applied to two other stores to work at and they haven’t contact me back. I’m bummed. I really want to work at Lamb’s Market. I also called about being their cake decorator, but they told me it’s for experienced decoraters only. How awesome would that be if I was a cake decortor? I could only dream.

Speaking of cakes…

Honorable cakes of the week:

Strawberry cake
Caramel cake
Banana cake  

By the way, the newest issue of Runner’s World is great.

The stories are all incredible. I apologize, but I liked Lance’s interview the most. I know he’s been in the news lately and he’s been accused of doping, but I don’t think he actually did any steroids or what not. I think he’s too compassionate about his sport and running to cheat at them. I don’t know though. What do you think?