Strength Training

I am not only training for my first ever TRI, I am also working my way back to health and fitness.  I have weight to lose and I wanted to be sure to incorporate weight training and specifically core work to my training schedule.  I have been doing this for over a month... here is what I learned:

• Interview your trainer... follow your instincts about fit... you need to fit with your trainer and you need to know what you are looking for in terms of style and temperament (it should go without saying that you want to be sure they are certified, etc)
• I DO NOT fit with my trainer... this can become a distraction as well as a de-motivator
• Be sure you have an open line of communication with your trainer... be clear with your goals and how you want to go about achieving them.  My trainer continues to 'forget' that I'm training for my TRI... my first goal is my TRI-specific training... the secondary goal is incorporating the additional strength training
• Don't do more of anything than you feel comfortable doing
• I do NOT want to train all this time only to bring myself down by lifting too heavy a weight or doing too many reps... My trainer seems to be of the no pain, no gain camp

You may wonder why I'm with this trainer when we seem to be at such odds... it's because there really aren't that many options in this area.  Initially I was excited because the cost was a mere fraction of what I'd pay back home... but ultimately it's not a bargain if it makes me not want to go to the gym... lol... and I really DO want to be the best I can be... so, I simply try and learn what I can so that I can take it all and continue on my own.

You have to know what you want to get.  -Gertrude Stein

Yikes....

Over a week since my last post....  the good news:  I'm getting loads of training in.... the not as good news:  I'm time challenged  *groan*  I'm still working off 3 different training plans and trying my best to set aside some time to create my uber plan so that I feel a little more grounded.... hence the inability to even make one post... lol

This week I finally got my first swim lesson in: YAY!  I'm feeling so much more confident about all this now (lol... it feels funny typing that)... maybe  that's not exactly what I mean, cuz, let's face it, I'm nothing if not confident.  So, maybe a little less intimidated by the water portion... AND the woman who is giving me pointers used to be a swim instructor (red-cross, I'm sure).  I shared with her my vision of learning TI and she's very supportive... I offered to let her view the DVD and she's totally on board with it. WooHOO!  There is also an awesome guy who works for my client who does Iron Mans... he's super supportive AND let's me pick his brain all the time... Everything feels like its really coming together and I'm loving it!

The running is coming along a little more slowly and I was not quite sure how to add time to my splits... so I did some research and found a cool program called c25k (Couch to 5k)... it takes you from not running at all to being able to run a 5K in 9 weeks.  It works on the same premise I've been doing but a little more focused and provides me with the structure of adding time to my splits. 

Ran today with Bax at the lake... he loves going there... and I do, too... how lucky I am to live in such a scenic, gorgeous place.

I also started sprouting again.  Delicious, nutritious and super easy (and you KNOW I'm all about the easy!).  Visit Sproutpeople.com if you're interested in learning more... they have great seeds and they are all organic.

There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream. ~Author Unknown

the swim

so I'm doing my bit, reading Total Immersion... I'm doing the drills.... and I even think I've found my coach.  Only problem is we can't seem to connect and the coach I found in Chicago is out of my price range (and time range)..... so as I was talking with a colleague today about how my training is going, I mentioned my dilemma with the swim element.  Another woman who was in the break room (but whom I'd not met) piped in 'I used to be a swim instructor... I'll train you'... lol... and when I said, Great... how much would you charge she said nothing.  NOTHING.... that she just wanted to do this....

It's all coming together. It's all falling gently into place.... it's all sooooooooooo great!

vegan energy bars

Success!!! We made delicious vegan energy bars this weekend... easy peasy and oh. my. god. GOOD.

Ingredients


• 2 cups quick oats

• 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

• 1/2 cup crushed pretzels (found some delicious organic whole grain, agave sweetened at Whole Foods)

• 1/2 cup crushed walnuts

• 1/2 cup almonds

• 1/2 cup sesame seeds

• 1/2 cup raisins

• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

• 1-1/2 cups natural peanut butter (we used raw almond butter instead)

• 1 cup honey (or maple syrup) (we cut this down because it seemed like it would be too sweet, but ultimately we ended up probably close because it needs it to hold together.

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.


2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, coconut flakes, pretzels, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds, and raisins.

3. Mix together peanut butter, honey, and vanilla in a small bowl, then microwave on high for 1 minute.

4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients (I found I needed to transfer it over to my mixer because it was difficult to mix manually). And add chocolate chips, if desired.

5. Generously grease (with your favorite butter substitute) a baking sheet (I used my 9” x 13” brownie pan) and pour in mixture. Press into the pan – bars should be 1 inch thick (or so).

6. Bake for 15 minutes, rotating pan at the half-way point.

7. Let cool, refrigerate, cut into approx. 15 bars, and enjoy.

These taste amazing.... ! Next I'm going to try some variations!