Moving

Hello all.  It's time for a little move/change.  Since I'm no longer posting primarily about Nutrisystem anymore, I wanted to change the blog name.  Something easier to remember and type.  So the blog has moved over to www.zanehollingsworth.blogspot.com

This page (and blog) will remain to point the way to the new blog.  Thanks!

Adding Mileage

Today I began my training for the Tough Mudder. I'm gonna push my running a little more each week, building up to where I'm very comfortable running the 10ish miles I'll have to run in March. So for the past few weeks I've been running 3 miles in however long it takes (24-26 minutes, depending on whether or not I was running hills) and then walking a little bit to finish up my 30 minutes. A couple of days ago I decided to run 4 miles and do it in 32 minutes. That'll be my new workout a few days a week. Push 4 miles at a quick-ish pace some days, and others run hills a little slower, but still getting in 4 miles. After a few weeks, I'll lengthen the distance and start running 5 miles most runs, then repeat until I'm in the 8-10 range a few times a week.

This morning was my first real breakfast in 3 days. Kim and I went to Panera and split a bagel with cream cheese. Outstanding! I also had a chai tea latte, which I loved. Lunch was an unexpected treat. We noticed a lady sitting outside a Latino grocery store near where we were working. Kim went over to check it out and came back with half a dozen home made tamales! They were fantastic. My next meal was a Lean Body Chocolate Peanut Butter protein shake and a small amount of cottage cheese and pineapples. Dinner this evening was all fake meat products.

Today's workouts were cardio only. 2.2 mile walk this morning with Kim and JJF. 4+ miles on the treadmill (in 31:31) when the gym opened at 1. Then another 2.2 mile walk around the lake this evening. More than 8.5 miles on the day.

Tomorrow is back to my original 6 meals a day eating plan, new running schedule, and a chest workout. I'll also start working Insanity and a Spin in on different days as well. Now I've got two goals to train for. The Tough Mudder and The Wedding!

End of the Cleanse

Today was the last day of my 3 day Shakeology Cleanse/Jump Start. I had 3 shakes during the day, plus one Lean Body shake. Then a salad and chicken for dinner. My freak out today was a muffin after dinner. Today was much easier. I had a little fruit during the day, plus a few slices of deli meat and jello pudding. I actually do feel better, but that could be from the chiropractor.

I had to go back to the chiropractor this morning. Lots of popping and cracking. Plus he hooked me to an electronic muscle stimulator for a few minutes. It felt wonderful. My muscles finally fatigued, then relaxed. I might have to go back next week, but I'll wait and see how I feel first.

I ran 3+ miles of hills this afternoon then walked this evening for today's exercise. Tomorrow will be more of the same.

I learned that the Tough Mudder for Georgia has been scheduled for March 11-12 in Cedartown. Can't wait. I think a large group form the gym is planning on running as a team. Should be fun.

I Think I've Got Shakeology About Figured Out

After last night's meltdown (I freaked and had some cereal late) and midnight pledge to never drink another sip of Shakeology, today has been much better. I looked up some different recipes for making the shakes. The key (so far) has been to add MILK. The taste (for me) was just awful without the milk. I've also thrown in some pineapple or banana to help. But the milk is the key.

So this morning I had a cup of coffee, a Shakeology shake with milk and a frozen banana. It was pretty good. Another shake, this time with milk and pineapple before lunch. After my workout I had a Lean Body Chocolate Peanut Butter shake. It was Fantastic! No milk required. Late in the afternoon I had another Shakeology drink before having a salad and salmon for dinner with Kim.

Before heading to the gym today I had to go to the chiropractor. Within moments of the good Doctor walking into the room he had me laid out on a table and was pushing on me. Not working so good. So I moved to a low bench, he twisted me up, and then jumped on me. RELIEF. I then began to pop like wild. Every direction he turned me something popped, released, let go, etc. I feel so much better. I may have to go back tomorrow or Monday if I'm not 100%.

I had to go buy some salad and fish before I could go to the gym, so I didn't make it until around lunch. I was worried I wouldn't have a good run/workout as a result. Couldn't have been more wrong. 4 miles in less than 31:50. Barefoot! Best run I've had in memory. I felt great the entire time. I purposefully did a baby leg workout today. 3 sets of leg extension & 3 sets of leg curls. I didn't want to do anything to upset my back.

Tomorrow is my final day of the 3 day cleanse. Well, my version of it anyway. Today has been so much better. not perfect, but better. Tomorrow might be difficult. I'll be home most of the day, tempted to eat other stuff other than my shakes and one meal. I'll try to dull the cravings with football, and the endless pizza commercials....

My Back Hurts, I'm Starving, & Tomorrow is Leg Day...

My back is still wrecked. I didn't sleep well as a result. So I got up early, had a cup of apple tea, and began my 3 day jump start/cleanse intro to Shakeology. Not loving it so far. The first shake I made following the directions was way to thick. The second was better, but I used a little pineapple instead of a banana and it tasted odd. I don't know how much I like the taste of Shakeology. I'm sure by the end of 3 days of it and very little else, I'll love it. My third and final shake of the day was at about 4PM. Just Shakeology and a frozen banana. Still not loving the taste. Gotta work on it. Maybe find some different recipes online. Dinner tonight was a salad and a piece of chicken. YUM!!! I did have a hand full on nuts this afternoon, and I've grazed on lettuce (and a few olives) all day long. Lay off me, I'M STARVING! Late I freaked and had some cheese, pudding, and a bowl of cereal. Still very low calories on the day (like less than 1400). Gonna try the cleanse again tomorrow, but I'm not sure if this is something for me.

At the gym I managed a slow paced 3 mile barefoot hill run. Nothing to get excited about, just grinded it out. My arm workout followed. Pretty weak really. 3 sets of overhead presses and 3 sets of press downs for triceps. Biceps began with 3 sets of seated incline dumbbell curls and ended with 2 sets of very heavy hammer curls.

Bad Run, Good Day

We got up around sunrise this morning and took Jumping Jack Flash on a walk shortly thereafter. I walked the medium distance route this morning around the lake (2.3 or so miles) and Kim headed back the quick route so she could get ready for work.

At the gym today I had one of the worst runs in recent memory. I ran 3 miles, but it seemed like every single step was difficult. Like I was having to mentally push every second. Lots of days I start out and after the first minute hit a groove. The next time I look down it's been 18 minutes and I'm nearing 2.5 miles. Not today. Just difficult today. I don't know why really. I didn't run earlier and I didn't feel tired. I did train before I ran today. But it was only a shoulder workout. The workout was 3 sets of machine shoulder presses, 3 sets of dumbbell side lateral raises, 3 sets of dumbbell upright rows, 3 sets on the rear delt machine, and 3 sets of shoulder shrugs. Tomorrow I guess I train before I run again and see how it goes.

I tried to go to the chiropractor today, but when I went by his office he was closed. And he's closed tomorrow. My back is wrecked. I've got two huge muscles knotted up on the upper left side of my back. They're so tight (and won't relax) that they're pulling me out of alignment. This is what happened before. I can at least pop my back now, but as soon as I do, the muscles just pull my spine back out of alignment. Hopefully I can get in on Friday, get some treatment (as in having him hook me up to a machine and shock my back until the muscles fatigue, relax, and then he can adjust me). My back is so tight that the muscles have started to itch. Ugh.

Kim, JJF, and I walked around the lake this evening. We took the medium route. Jack saw a cat (again) and chased it. The cat (who looks just like our cat, Puppy) dove into some very high weeds on one side of the road/trail we walk on. Jack dove in after him. A few seconds later we saw/heard some weeds/bushes moving on the other side of the path. The cat had crawled through a hidden drainage pipe to the other side to lose jack. Pretty smart kitty.

Food today was again great. Muffin for breakfast, protein shake for AM snack, LC for lunch, another shake in the middle of the afternoon, salmon and a salad for dinner, and a muffin as a dessert. Around 1500 calories on the day.

My order of Shakeology arrived today. I'll start the 3 day cleanse tomorrow, then roll back into the 1500-1600 calorie diet after. I also received a few new Insanity discs. I replaced some that were damaged, and ordered the 20 minute Fast & Furious (or something like that) workout. I'll get back to Insanity next week!

Things Seem Easy Without Insanity

This week (and last week too) I haven't had any Insanity workouts. I finished up the week before. Without the craziness, I feel like my training is so easy now. I'm still doing 3 rounds of varied cardio and my usual strength training. Once I get my shipment of Shakeology in (tomorrow, I think) and then get through the 3 day cleanse, I'll be ready to start mixing the Insanity back in. I've been toying with the idea of trying P90 or P90X or whatever it's called. I enjoyed the Insanity so much, I'm thinking I'd like something else. I don't know what I'd do about training at the gym though. Maybe just do some treadmill/elliptical stuff at the gym for a bit. Anybody ever tried P90? Any recommendations? Any thoughts? Anyone? Bueller? Anyone?

Today was another great day! I didn't wake up quite as early (actually overslept a little, I was tired) so I didn't run outside this morning. Instead I rode the spin bike for a little over 30 minutes as I watched a recorded episode of the West Wing. Best. Show. Ever.

Next up was the gym. I began with a back workout. 3 very poor sets of pull-ups, 3 sets of heavy t-bar rows, 3 sets of hammer rows, and 3 sets of lat pull-downs. Then on to the treadmill. I did a mile of varied paced running (between 7 & 8 mph), then a mile of HIIT varying from a walking speed of 3.5 for a minute, then running for a minute at a faster pace. Runs started at 8mph, increasing .5 each cycle until I was running at a 6 minute mile pace. Actually, at the fastest pace I felt my running form was the best. I was standing very erect, my feet were out in front of me, and my stride was very short and quick. Just like if I was running barefoot! Cool, I think. I was pretty winded after the HIIT (that's why I did it, to get in a more strenuous workout during the run), so my last mile was a varied run again, but at a slower pace (6-7). I finished up the workout with a few minutes of a slow walk.

After working some this afternoon, Jumping Jack Flash and I walked around the lake this evening. Tonight was Kim's night to work late, so it was just he and I on the evening stroll. As the temps drop, I want to start taking some of the big dogs on walks again. Still not cool enough for them though.

Food on the day was great again. Muffin for breakfast, shake for AM snack, Indian meal for lunch, shake as a PM snack. LC tortilla crusted fish for dinner, shake for dessert, and about 1/4 of a muffin on my way to bed. 1700 or so calories on the day. I'll burn 4000 or so. This new modified diet has been working perfectly. I'm never hungry, I'm staying full, and I've got plenty of energy. Some of the shakes I've been adding either a banana or some pineapple, or both. I haven't used more than a shake a day in years. I used to have four or more a day in college. I always enjoyed the simplicity and consistency of eating that way.