"Your ribs are sexy"

What a sick thing to say to a woman, no? I was at the gym tonight and at the water fountain, I was activating my chest strap for my heart rate monitor. I had to lift my shirt to do it. I got on the treadmill and this dude comes up (not cute, btw) and says "your ribs are sexy" - SICKO. Collarbones, sure. Ribs? Whatever.

It's been a shitty week mood-wise, but otherwise excellent training-wise. The other day I did 5.5 miles in 50 minutes - HOLLER!!!! I've also made it a point to do yoga, stationary bike AND precor in the past 4 days. En feugo.

Weekend was great - training, massage, gtg with my nesties at karaoke, good food. =)

Other than that, my life has been uneventful. Here are some of my fave pics over the past few days (ghetto photoshop thanks to weezermonkey):

how fitting that it's Cat and Kate in the background laughing at me


In case you ever wonder how my workdays feel:

Karma is real

Monday and Tuesday I didn't feel too great. Not bad enough that I should have stayed home, but I called in sick Wednesday anyway. Well here it is, Thursday morning, and I've promised I'd go in. Then an alert came on my blackberry - court today - WTF? I thought my request for a continuance had been granted - NOPE. So having not filed objections to the opposition's petition, I am passing bricks about going to court today, especially since I feel like hell.

Aside from that, I really am sick now. Can barely breathe (I have asthma) and my workouts have been subpar and I have no energy. It's difficult to believe that I have my first race in a month and I don't feel anywhere near ready.

That's it, I'm off today, as I have been the rest of the week. Hopefully I'll just come home after my 2pm hearing. Wish me luck. Ugh.

Btw - I saw this and loved it. So true, so true.

Marathon REST day; crappy mood too

I'll make this brief - I feel like hell. Congested, headache, sluggish, allergies. It blows. I made it to happy hour to meet am old friend, and I feel bad that I wasn't my usual self.

I had planned a rest day today for marathon training anyway, so hopefully the funk wears off soon. I think a large part of my mood is due to the fires that are STILL raging right now in LA, OC and SD counties.

That's it. Sorry for being lame.

Oh yes, I got a picture of the "Zendo" diet pills that my cousins are taking. Made in China and distributed in the Philippines? YIKES.


Here's me doing a flip (somewhat successfully) in jeans and my cowboy boots. Don't try this at home.

Frisco Frolicking!

I hate when people call San Francisco "Frisco" - but it sounded good to me.

Spent the weekend in SF for family functions. I ate terribly but I was good about working out!!

Saturday: 5.5 miles total outdoor run; 9:39 pace for 4 miles - hooray! It was hilly so I'm happy with this!
Sunday: upper body strength training and 1.75 light jog.

Frolicking:

Friday - TGIF calls for TGI Fridays! I ate like a pig and drank a bit, oopsy.

Saturday - birthday party at Jollibee's - Filipino heaven consisting of spaghetti, fried chicken and mocha chocolate crunch cake. I got a picture with Jollibee himself, wuuuhuuu.


Also saw one of my bridesmen Sunil and we (along with my cuzzos) frolicked downtown at the Sugar Lounge - isn't he pretty?


The "joyride" home, yikes:


Sunday - my cousin's baby shower - more food. Ouch. This is just ONE of the 3 tables of food. Ugh.


And yes, I'm wearing the same shirt from the night before - dual purpose packing - I'm all about it:


I'm home now and I'm pooped. And sad because of the fires. I can't wait for Friday.

!!!!Fires in Orange County, San Diego & LA Counties!!!!!

Most of you know that I was in San Francisco this weekend so I have some stories to tell and pictures to share. But for now, I just want to take today to be mellow and appreciate the gravity of the Southern California fires.

Dear God I can see the red sky in the distance and it is SO WINDY right now. How scary. As if 10:21 pm, the news is reporting that the fires in Foothill Ranch are not dying. The news is also saying that we will be having the worst winds over the next 24hours - I just want to cry. I am about 9 miles from the Foothill Ranch fires.

Many people have been evacuated in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as well as up in Santa Clarita and Lake Arrowhead. A few of my family members have been evacuated from their homes in North San Diego, and I have several friends that are also close to the fires. Foothill Ranch is a few miles from me and I too am scared. As I drove home from the gym, I could see the red flames.

Sending good thoughts and wishes for health and safety to our friends and family that have been affected. What a sad few days it's been.



Foothill Ranch fires about 8-9 miles away:

Thank you for the pictures Dawn.

The morning after....oh God! & diet pills

My food intake for last night was appalling. I started off so well too. This is why I hate going out to eat. I flew to San Francisco for the weekend, and I went to TGI Fridays with my cousins. I ALMOST said no to alcohol, but COME ON.

Here was the damage - CONSERVATIVELY about 2,800 calories. I seriously hate myself right now. I won't be looking like Leann Tweeden anytime soon, I'm so sad:



On another note, I saw my cousins for the first time since August, and I couldn't believe how much weight they have lost. I'm talking 20 to 30 pounds APIECE in about 2 months. I am so jealous because it's taken me almost 10 months to drop 30ish pounds and I've worked my ass off for it. They are in to this new diet pill, something called Zendo and it's from the Phillipines. Eh, oh well.

Yegchy day - thank goodness for Sophie and my Garmin!

Today sucked kinda. I'm really feeling the effects of this stupid nicotine withdrawal. But I digress.

I ran with my Garmin watch for the first time today! I love it - it accurate tracks my pace and mileage. Although it's bulky, I felt like a real runner wearing it! I didn't pick up too many miles today - 3.7 - although broken up into 2 workouts (Sophie jogged with me for 1.65 miles). My pace is still slower than I'd like it to be at a 9:49 mile, I'd like to get it around 9 to 9:15 in order to finish the 10k Turkey Trot in under an hour.



On a lighter note - I found this old picture of Sophie and just had to share. I love my little peanut.

T-E-A-M...GooooOOOOO TEAM!!

That's right - TEAM IN TRAINING!!! Holla!!

Finally a group picture of the fabuloso nesties that are shooting for the LA Marathon! I love these girls (well, most of the time)!

Please feel free to leave a comment with suggestions as to what we can do as a team to raise money for Leukemia. We're running to save lives, and hopefully, to find a cure for cancer. Please show your support and encouragement, we NEED IT!

Jessica, Cat, Aline, Kim, and Princess, oops I mean Diane (me, 10yt):


Special shout out to my bestie Jamie who will be running the December 8th marathon in Hawaii! How awesome! She has truly inspired me to do the marathon in LA, and she's proven that if you have the heart to believe it, your body can achieve it. Thanks Jamie!

Dear Nest, you're killing me.

NFT

You CAN lose weight while training for a race - and I will PROVE IT

The secret? BMR - Basal Metabolic Rate. In a nutshell, it tells you how many calories you burn per day even if you were to sit on your bum the whole time.

How to calculate it:

665+ (4.35* your weight) + (4.7* your height in inches) - (4.7* your age)

My BMR = approximately 1411. So without exercising, I burn 1411 calories a day. If you are very sedentary, you will probably burn less, consequently if you're more active you'll probably burn more. These are just average numbers, and they don't take into account what your body fat % is.

I will round my BMR to 1400.

Determine your daily caloric needs:
If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9

So to maintain my weight, I have to consume 1400*1.375 = 1925 calories a day.

Use the above to calculate your MAGIC NUMBER.

One pound = 3,500 calories.

So, if I want to lose 5 pounds by the end of November, I have to have a calorie deficit of 5*3500 = 17,500 calories in 6 weeks.

What I will do for EACH DAY until the end of November:

- log ALL calories consumed

- subtract my magic number

- subtract any calories burned during exercise

= my calorie deficit (or "above budget" if you will)

I will try to cap my calories at 1600 so that any calories I burn during exercise go into my calorie deficit basket. I CAN DO THIS!!

I have 6 weeks starting this weekend, October 20th. So for each week, I have a goal to have a calorie deficit of 2,916. YIKES.

If I keep up my daily activity rate, without exercising at all I will have a deficit of 2275 calories. So I need to exercise during the week, obviously.

If I don't make it, that's ok too. But I will put this BMR mumbo jumbo to the test.

RECAP THE FORMULA TO FIND YOUR CALORIE DEFICIT!!:
BMR + Calories Burned = (your BMR + ____) = (____)
Calories Consumed = _____,
Calorie Deficit = (____)

Thank you to Jillian Michaels and Magda for the helpful information and inspiration!

Training rest day today - NOT

As you know, I've been trying to work out really hard lately. Today I decided to make a rest day since an old friend of mine was coming to visit that I haven't seen for about 8 years!! She was my college roomie and was with me the day I met Mr.10years =)

She came with her hubby and THREE kids. Yikes, I'm spent. We made pizza and salad for dinner, with LIGHT ice cream for dessert. I even had an oreo cookie with mine. I made sure to eat light during the day so I could splurge a little tonight.

I'm glad Mr.10years and I will be waiting a little while longer before having a kid, after tonight I don't think I'm ready at all. Sophie isn't used to kids so she got a little overwhelmed but the exposure is good for her. But they sure were cute as hell!!:


My pooooor poooor mariachi harpist is crippled, from the set that Kate got me from Mexico. It'll be a quick fix though:

Running Progress - 8:20 minute mile!

WOOOOOO!! I've ran my fastest mile yet - 8:20 paced mile! I'm very excited. Now it's time to be able to sustain that pace for 6.21 miles (for the 10k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving) since I'm shooting to finish the race in under an hour.

Other than that, I lifted weights at the gym for my lower body. I want to build my calf and hip flexor muscles so I don't injure myself, especially on downhill parts of the race.

Total calories consumed today: 1553
Total calories burned: 175+150+275 = 600
Want to see what I ate? I still need a lot of work in this dept.: http://www.sparkpeople.com/myspark/nutrition_food_chart.asp?sid=L%2C3+%3Fbvx0b%278W%2D%3DIi%2B%3C%7CRl%27QrqU%40Rm&iMTGoalNum=23820779&dteDateShowing=10/15/2007&bGetElementByID=TRUE

Along with training for the 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon, I STILL want to lose about 5 to 7 pounds (get into the 120's!!) by New Years Eve. This entails staying within my calorie range, which is really hard to do for someone like me who loves to eat.

No relevant photos, so since Sophie is feeling a little neglected, here is her being a good little girl while waiting for her "release" command to get her new bully stick as a treat! She has the most pitiful face. Don't let her fool you, she gets treated very well.

Run Nesties RUN!!

What a RUSH! This morning at 730, the OC Nesties/Sparklers went for a 4.58 mile run around Costa Mesa. It was fabulous! We met at the gym since we were doing yoga afterwards. Let me tell you, it was so fun. Speedracer Claire led the way, and the rest of us were good sports following in tow. I was so proud of everyone that we finished the whole route. We did yoga afterwards, minus the headstands, which was a great way to end the workout and start off the day.

I'm super proud because we did this run BEFORE official training has even started. What troopers.

Here's us at 730am - don't we look cute? Just FYI - this is the team that will be doing the Orange County Half Marathon in January and the Los Angeles Marathon in March - wish us luck!



As my extra inspiration, my bestie Jamie ran the San Jose Half Marathon today with a personal BEST time! I'm so proud of her! Gooooooo Jamie!

Marathon Training KICKOFF!!

Today was a great day! Aside from beginning my new smoke-free life, we had our first marathon training event - the Kickoff!

It was Kim, Aline and I since Jess and Cat are on vacation. We got goodies at the morning meeting (donuts and Team in Training Gear), and I only ate 1/3 of the donut, thank you very much:



The best part of the day came next - SOUP PLANTATION - HOLLA!!! We figured that once formal running training starts, we won't be doing much more piggyfests like this, so why not enjoy it while we can?

Blueberry muffins - be still my heart:


MUAHAHAHAAA....


Yummy!! Don't knock us - we have a 4.58 mile run tomorrow so we were carb-loading...


I also:
- did 3 miles with incline and speed training
- took my Sophie for a nice long walk
- spent time detoxing in the sauna.

To make a good thing even better, Mr10years made us a fabulous, healthy and lowfat dinner: salmon, rissoto and green beans. He's the bestest!




All in all - a great day!

Dirty Confession =(

I smoke. I said it. I'm so horrible. What a hypocrite I am, talking about working out and living strong when in reality, I smoke. I have a habit that kills innocent people. Well, I'm ready to quit. Smoking is no longer sexy, glamorous or fun. I feel guilty every time I take a puff, I really do.

Now I have the ultimate reason to quit!!! Aside from being pregnant I guess.

Here are some of my reasons to quit:

1. I don't want to get cancer. Although, I may have already done enough damage to where cancer in my future is inevitable. This makes me sad.
2. It's a condition of my job that I don't smoke. That's right, I hide it.
3. It's not cheap.
4. My life insurance premiums WILL go down if I can stay smoke-free for at least 1 year.
5. I'd like to have children one day so I should save whatever eggs I have left.
6. I don't want more wrinkles than I already have.
7. I will run faster and stronger.
8. I can run the marathon for Leukemia and cancer prevention without being a raging hypocrite.

Bye bye Smoker 10years:


Please help keep me accountable. Feel free to give me more reasons to quit and remain smoke free!

LIVE STRONG.

God this post felt good.

Garlic fries - NOT part of a marathoner's training regimen

Food and I have a strange relationship. I love food and food hates me. I am literally in bed right now from a food coma. It's such a disgusting feeling.

Today was a rest day for my training. Unfortunately, I mistook that as a license to be an idiot and gorge myself at happy hour (Karl Straus). It's the Porky Pig in me I guess.

Fun times, as always, with Kim, Claire, Jess, Steph and Elle. Somehow we managed to discuss running/training AND throw back about 9 appetizers total. No kidding.



In short - today was a bad day for me exercise/training wise. But it's okay. Everything in moderation. After next week, there shall be no more of this garlic fries nonsense.

Lesson? Mind your calories and food intake. In one sitting, I consumed about 1,500 calories, so disgusting. And I am now paying for it by feeling utterly ill in bed.

Namaste....Ohmmmmmm....

Yoga! During my training for the 10k, Halfie and Fully, my main concern is preventing injuries. So I've been reading a lot about proper nutrition for marathon training, proper gear, and strength and stretching exercises.

I've made it a point to plan on and actually follow through with lifting weights twice a week to build my muscles, as well as to add stretching to EACH workout (running AND resistance training). In addition to that pre and post workout stretch session, I WILL do a yoga class at least once, but aiming for TWICE a week.

I went tonight. I get antsy for the first 10 minutes because I'm so high strung that it's hard for me to focus on breathing alone. Then, we got into all the poses and I could feel the blood rushing to neglected parts of my body. And the stretching - yowzers. I am such a beginner at yoga, and I was reminded of that tonight.

If you're planning on revamping your exercise regimen or training for any kind of roadrunner race, I highly recommend yoga. I took the Yoga Stretch class at 24 hour fitness and I'm spent.

I feel the need...the NEED FOR SPEEEED!!!

Oh yes! I'm still high off my spectabulous workout tonight!!

I've been feeling a little discouraged with my morning outdoor runs because I've been slow since I run in a hilly area (2.71 miles in 28 minutes - you do the math, it's slightly more than an average 10+ minute mile). My goal for the 10k/6.21 mile run on Thanksgiving is 1 hour or less. So I'm trying to get my mile to a rough 9 minute mile.

Anyway, I thought I'd do a treadmill run tonight to test my speed and see if my endurance has improved at all - IT HAS!!! I used to average a 9 to 10 minute mile on the treadmill but it would be rigorous for me. Tonight, drum roll please....3 miles in 28 minutes!! Better yet, I did it at an incline ranging from 0 to 1.5 AND I walked after every 8 minutes of running!

What helped, you ask? A few things:

1. Training on hills and outdoors. - highly recommend.

2. Clif Blocks (33.33 calories per block, 8g of carbs, 4 of which are sugars) - I ate one before my workout and I was en fuego! - highly recommend for people who are endurance training.


3. SPANDEX - HOLLERRRRR. I did it, I bought spandex capris. A little self-concious I was, yes, at the gym. But they didn't weigh me down. - highly recommend.

4. MOTIVATION!!

I want a body like Jillian - she's one of my physical heroes. GRRRRRRR!!

Mileage, Gas & GPS watches - oy vey

These are a few things I experienced today.

1) I put in mileage as part of my training. Aimed for 3.5 miles, lost steam so only went 2.71. I also haven't gotten any faster since last week. That makes me sad. I'm trying to find solace in the fact that I'm doing morning runs around my neighborhood which is very hilly. Also, I went slowwwwly on the downhill runs because I don't want to blow my fat little knees.

2) Gas. Hmmmm...let's just say I have probably been consuming too much dairy. Boohoo.

NOW for some fun stuff!

3) I picked up a little toy for myself - I'm so excited! It is literally a wristheld watch-like GPS system! It tracks my running pace, mileage, elevation, heart rate and calories burned. I figure that it's an investment in my 10k, half marathon and marathon training. The more $$ I spend, the more vested I become, and hopefully the more committed I'll be. Kisses kisses to my Garmin Forerunner 305:


















Now that I've bored the hell out of you - here's the fun stuff! Thanks to the Sparky Marathoners and Runners for the guiding me to the following words of wisdom. Please vote on your favorite:

1. I have the body of a god...too bad it's Buddha
2. So many men, so few who can afford me
3. God made us sisters; Prozac made us friends.
4. If they don't have chocolate in heaven, I ain't going.
5. My Mother is a travel agent for guilt trips.
6. Coffee, chocolate, men . . . Some things are just better rich.
7. If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.
8. If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen.
9. I'm out of estrogen-and I have a gun. Go away.
10. Guys have feelings too. But like...who cares?
11. I hate everybody...and you're next.
12. I used to be schizophrenic, but we're OK now.
13. All stressed out and no one to choke.
14. Sorry if I looked interested. I'm not.
15. You are just jealous that the voices talk to me and not you.

Gimme mememememee

I STILL don't know what a meme is...Aline and Amber, thanks A LOT for tagging me.

Four Jobs I've Had In My Life

1. Chuck E Cheese
2. Subway
3. Red Lobster
4. Baskin Robbins
(see a trend?)

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over

1. Legally Blonde
   
2. Serendipity
3. Pretty in Pink
   
4. 13 Going on 30
   

Four TV Shows I Like To Watch

1. Biggest Loser
   
2. American Idol
   
3. Lifetime Television
   
4. Lifetime Movie Network
   

Four Places I Have Vacationed

1. Korea
2. Mexico
3. Hawaii
4. South Beach - HOLLER!
   

Four Of My Favorite Dishes

1. Margherita Pizza - HOMEMADE by YOURS TRULY
   
2. T-bone steak (WITH the fat please) and white rice
   
3. Rueben Sandwich, extra kraut, extra dressing
   
4. Chicken Tikka Masala
   

Four Places I'd Rather Be

1. Walmart
2. Sauna
3. Vacation home in Washington during the winter with Bubsie and a good book
   
4. El Torito Happy Hour with the girls
   

Four Websites I Visit Daily

1. Gmail
2. Sparkpeople
   
3. Myspace
4. The Nest
   

I don't think there is anyone left to tag!

Ok - T minus 10 hours until my Marathon training starts - ****SCREECHING****
And here is for you picture whores:

BREAKING NEWS!!!

Oh God. God help me. These evil momsters tied me up amd held me dowm amd made me sigm papers sayimg I'd RUM THE LOS AMGELES MARATHOM om March 2, 2008.


Ok, maybe I'm exaggeratimg a bit. But I did feel a little forced AT FIRST. Although today, after the Team im Traimimg meetimg amd the video they showed, my heart started to warm up to the idea. I really lost it whem the guy im the video was rummimg amd said "I'm doimg it for you Mom!!!" Dammit. I was sold.

Soooooooo....here I go. My traimimg for the Halfie has turmed imto traimimg for the FULLY. I guess that's what I'll call it.

To start the "seasom" off right, I wemt om a rum om the beach boardwalk im Mewport Beach with Jessica, Kim amd Cat. Beautiful mormimg!

I'm comfidemt this will be am experiemce of a lifetime, amd I cam omly be grateful that I'll be sharimg that experiemce with some ladies that I absolutely adore amd who I kmow will push me past my limit. Hopefully I'll have that medal to show my gramdkids ome day. For mow, I'm aimimg to do the Halfie with a time goal, amd I'm aimimg to do the Fully just to fimish. That's all I cam ask of myself.

I emded the might with bubsie #1, we wemt to a charity bamquet amd I got to wear my little back dress - BOOYAH!

Live Strong and Get Hot!!

It's almost time to start official training for the Orange County Half Marathon ("Halfie")! My running schedule will be as follows:

Monday - 3.5mile AM outdoor run (hills and distance for endurance)
Tuesday - 2.5mile PM treadmill run (short distance and flat for timing)
Wednesday - 3.5mile AM outdoor run (hills and distance for endurance)
Thursday - No run
Friday - No run
Saturday - 4.5mile AM outdoor run (distance and timing)
Sunday - No run
TOTAL MILEAGE GOAL WEEK 1: 14miles

If you want to see the other components of my first week of training, click here: http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=0tg6ao7na9cp9e4q6o9riofekg%40group.calendar.google.com















I have to credit Sparkpeople for jump-starting my motivation and workout regimen, which started on January 3, 2007. The ladies on there have truly inspired me not just to lose weight for vanity but to get healthy and LIVE STRONG (Jessica and Aline were frontrunners so kisses kisses!). My new SP friend Magda (Sparker "Smurfette0725) from SP has been my "goal" physique (see photo above) - she has lost 25 pounds by running and joined when I did. If doing the OC Halfie will get me her figure, I'm all in!

Pre-conditioning week has 2 more days - tomorrow (Saturday) is a longer run on the beach, followed by strength training and yoga on Sunday. Bring it.

I'm currently reading "My Journey Back to Life" by Lance Armstrong (*swooning*), so, accordingly, I'll sign off by saying "LIVE STRONG and GET HOT!!!"

Please suh, give me more - Oliver Twist

Remember that sceme? Poor little humgry amd dirty Oliver....

Some of you kmow that my appetite might sometimes be characterized as "stealth." I love food. Growimg up, I mever wemt humgry, at least mot for lack of food. I kmow I take food for gramted, I thimk most of us do.

I'm at a poimt im my life where I'm startimg to reflect om what's importamt im this world amd what I cam do to make a differemce. If I make myself a better persom as a result, them it's really just a wimdfall.



Most of you kmow that I'm doimg the OC Half Marathom (hereafter, "Halfie") om Jamuary 8, 2008 (my daddy's birthday!). Im the imterim, I'm doimg the Turkey Trot om Thamksgivimg Day im Dama Poimt, which is a 10k (6.21 miles). I was imitially doimg it as part of my Halfie traimimg. But I thought, what the heck, I'll raise a little momey for a good cause while I'm at it.



I foumd a cause I believe im - Feedimg Humgry Childrem!! Amy fumds I raise will go towards a Secomd Harvest, a food bamk im Oramge Coumty. I may mot be child-imclimed, but I have a soft spot for little people goimg humgry to mo fault of their owm. It gets me all choked up amd it makes me sick to thimk of how much food goes wasted. Or evem that I've paid $85 for a lobster tail or $43 for a frickim pizza.

If you'd like to see how much I've raised so far, please click here: http://www.active.com/donate/turkeytrot07/10yearstogether