Week One of Training...Over & Out

SO, I just completed week one of my whole new training program. I have joined my gym's version of "Biggest Loser" for people looking to lose at least 20 lbs (yes, I fit into that category as I want to lose 25-30). I started with my main goals: lose weight, have a trainer 3 days a week for strength, and have another person to make me accountable. Then, as the week went on, the clouds lifted and the fog I have been in for a very, very long time has started to disappear. My goals are finally defining themselves.

1) Eat better. Look, I love wine as much as the next person. No, scratch that, I love wine more than the next person. I really, really do. I know, $10 is the right price for an everyday wine, but my favorite is a Zinfandel that is about $30 a bottle (and, NO PEOPLE, Zinfandel is not a pink wine. It's red, it's full bodied, and it was my friend). I knew something had to go, so I said so long for now to my friend Grgich Hills Zin......*tear* I'm limited to 1650 calories a day to consume, but that's more than plenty.

2) Strength. I have nooooooo upper body strength. The fact that I can pull myself up to 2000 meters in a pool with little training amazes me some days. With proper training that's not the case, but I've been sitting on my butt for so long, unfortunately, this is my reality.

3) Lose Weight. I look like I weigh less than I really do which is a good thing.....but, I still need to lose not just weight as much as size. Wait, no, I need to lose the weight as well. See, somehow I have managed to do all of this racing on two rather arthritic ankles and have Vascular Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and it turns out that doing nothing is what causes the most pain. The best pain management, for me, are the workouts. Now, I have days when pain is pain and it will not subside. Then that day becomes my day off. Too often had it been a race day, and it makes me sad to not go, but I rather like not breaking a stiff ankle and being out for a whole season.

4) Run faster. Look folks, I know it sounds like I'm this crazy runner, but I'm not.....yet. I walk, A LOT, I'm so slow (averaging a 10 minute mile pace makes me giddy) and I'm the laziest endurance athlete known to mankind. Just ask anyone that knows me or has trained with me. I used to be a good athlete. Trained, disciplined, would get antsy if I didn't do something, anything. Well, I still get stir crazy, but it's not like I'm running everyday....that's about to change ;)

5) Be accountable. I needed something, someone that I had to show up for. I wasn't showing up for me, so it needed to be another person. Now I have a training partner AND a personal trainer. I show up for two people. I can make up a missed Saturday run with my group on a Sunday with Happy Jason, but I HAVE to show up for my training session with my workout buddy Annette and trainer Jim. Oh, and I HAVE to show up for Wednesday night yoga or I'm going to be in so much pain.

So, I'm going into week two now. I have my first weigh in and for some reason I think I haven't lost anything. Do you have any idea how hard it is to burn 2650 calories a day? Hell, I went for a long run yesterday in the 90 degree heat and still fell short by 200 calories burned for the day. I'll get there, and I'll learn to walk 10,000 steps a day, and I'll get to the physical level in which I have no doubt that I could finish the California 70.3 Ironman in my sleep, but it's going to take time, patience and dedication.

Week 2, HERE I COME!