getting back into shape

i'm reposting what i posted at my other blog here. i decided that after a long hiatus, it's about time i pick up this blog again and start jotting down my journey to get back into shape. it's been 10 months since the arrival of baby #2 and i need to regain my body again. so here's to lots of running, getting back into shape and reaching that goal weight! :)

---------

so the olympics have been on the last week and a half. seeing all these athletes and their crazy amazing bodies is… what's the word? well, let's just say i've been inspired to get back into shape again. i mean really get back into shape and for good this time around. it's another added motivation. of course i know my body will never be as rock hard as theirs, but close enough will work for me. i just want to be lean and toned; in shape and healthy. i'm thinking i'll be approaching 30 in a couple of years, i really should try to enter my 30's at the best shape of my life and keep it.

 since baby #2, i've been easing myself back into exercising and eating better. but the last couple of months i've fallen off the wagon and the numbers on the scale are not good. i want to say i'm almost the same weight as i was exactly at this time (9-10 months post baby) compared to baby #1. i was hoping with baby #2 it would be different. it was for a while, until recently. and i can't go on with what i've been doing recently; eating whatever i wanted, skipping runs and strength training workouts. my weight has creeped up to 108 lb from 101 lb. i cannot be 108 lb this time around, no way!

to help me get into the best shape of my life i've decided to take baby steps, as we all should know, losing weight and looking good doesn't happen overnight. it takes a lot of time, effort and commitment. you must want it and do something about it to make it happen. you can say i'm making that first step today. with 2 months to go before my baby turns 1, i want to ensure that come her first birthday, i'm a step closer to my ideal figure. i'm not exactly sure what ideal is, but for now, let's say something in the ballpark of lean, toned (with muscle definitions please?! =/) and 95-100 lb.

these are the things i'll be doing for the next 2 months (and beyond):
- run 3-4x a week, 15 miles total to start, then slowing increasing to 25 miles/week
- strength training 3x a week (pilates, yoga, basic strength moves)
- 2 sets of 20-rep modified pushups, dips and lunges every night
- drink lots and lots of water
- eat at least 1 piece of fruit and 2 servings of veggie a day (i'm terrible at this, sometimes i'll go on for days without eating a single piece of fruit! veggies on the other hand i'm much better at, but still not good)
- portion control, really pay attention!

here are some things i'll keep as reminders along the way. the quotes below are great. they've helped me a lot in the past and i know they'll do the same this time around.


i love this quote. i try to tell myself this every day... i want to look ahead a year from now and know i've really done it or at least is getting there because i've made the commitment to start today.


this is my favorite all-time no slacking quote. no excuses, just do it!


here's me with my cutie pie (baby #1) at the nike women's marathon (nwm) expo in october 2010. i was at my lightest weight (96 lb) post baby #1, and before baby #2 of course. i want to get there again.


me before the nwm. i must get there again... not only with my figure, but also with my running speed! ran my first ever half marathon in 2:04. i know i can do it again. :)

a new start...

Alright, I hate restarting... but really, I want to be serious this time, for real. So here's the deal, starting right now, at this very moment, I want to be good and do good regarding weight loss, diet, exercise, myself... everything else, pretty much the whole shi-bang!

So to make this work, I've decided to write up a mini-contract for myself. For every day that I do not walk pass 10,000 steps or eat more than 1250 calories, I must pay myself $1.

"YOU CAN SO DO THIS" Contract:

I, mzrichee, vow to be true, honest, and give every effort possible to making this weight loss, getting back into shape, eating healthier possible. If I do not meet any daily/weekly goals by the time I hit the sack every night I must deposit $1 per goal into the piggy bank.

These goals are:
1. Eat between 1,100 to 1,250 calories per day
2. Walk/run 10,000 total steps per day
3. Run at least 10-15 miles a week
4. Drink 2 glasses of milk per day
5. Eat at least 2 servings of fruit per day
6. Eat at least 2 servings of veggies per day
7. Two stretch/pilates sessions a week
8. Two strength training sessions a week
9. Two abs sessions a week

So if you think about it, if I was to really slack off and not do anything, I could end up having to deposit $5 a day on most days, and $9 on Sunday if I really did not do much on that day.

I honestly think this is a doable, reasonable contract. I know I can do this. I just have to "JUST DO IT!"

I am so excited to start this new thing I've got for myself. I know I can really do this. I want to do this. I have to do this. I must do this!!!! I talked Mark into running the Nike+ HumanRace10K with me at the end of this month in Los Angeles, so I really need to stick with this and do well. I want to make sure that by the end of the month, I am so ready to tackle this 10K. I've never ran more than 4 or 5 miles at a time, so I really want to do well, be ready for this 6.2 miles.

Oh, today's the SF Marathon in San Francisco. I'm just so excited for all those runners out there today. Yesterday I drove pass the Embarcadero and saw all those people down at the Marathon Expo. So many runners picking up their packet, numbers, shirts, etc. It's just super exciting. I can't wait for that to be me next year. I really want to tackle a half-marathon. And eventually, one of these days, tackle a full marathon. I know it's quite the distance, but I just know I can so do it. Really, all you have to do is set your mind to it and anything, seriously, anything is possible if it's within your control. I believe I can do it. If any of those runners can, I certainly can! :)

Alright, so what have I done/eaten today? First off, I ate horribly this morning! My breakfast was more like lunch or dinner. I had 1/2 cup of white rice with a rotissere chicken wing and drumstick w/ BBQ sauce. I know, terrible! But regarding exercise, so far I've ran almost 2.5 miles (30 minutes total) and burned 198 calories doing it.. which isn't so bad.

Anyway, for the rest of the day I do vow to do good because the whole contract thing starts right now. So... good luck to me and let's hope I do really good!

Oh, when's the end date to all of this? Let's do this for 3 months... so let's say Sunday, November 2, 2008. :)

Best of luck to me!!!