Bodyrock 30 Day Challenge and a long run

I just finished Bodyrock.tv's January 30 Day Challenge (clearly I'm a little behind). After spending January coming back from my stress fracture and dealing with ITBS, I finially decided I really needed to spend some time on non-cardio related exercise. Aside from a random stint in college, I haven't worked on gaining muscle since my high school weight room days and after taking years off of serious working out and surgery, my muscles were more pathetic than usual. So, on January 30th I started the 30 Day Challenge one month after it was posted on the website.

It started with a fit test consisting of 7 exercises. You repeated the exercises as many times as possible for 50 seconds. After a 10 second break, you start the next exercise. The test was repeated halfway through the challenge and on the final day. Here are my results:

I want to note that the fit test calls for "straight abs" instead of crunches. When I first started I did not know what a straight ab was so I did crunches. I later realized they are just regular sit ups. One of the trainers is British and has different names for a few things (like press ups instead of push ups). I also want to note that the second fit test was after a run where I hurt my knee. Any bending of my knee was pretty painful and I think the results of the test reflect that more than anything.

Overall I am SO pleased with the results of these 30 days. Not only do I feel stronger but my legs are almost the same size!!! Even John noticed that my right quad is catching up with my left in a big way. I plan to keep doing bodyrock 5 days a week. I really think it has enabled me to start running again.

Speaking of running again, I'm hoping to have my first real long run tomorrow since the beginning of November. I'm a little nervous but I'm just going to focus on covering the distance-NOT on pace, although that will be difficult.

Well I found a new thing to obsess over...



Melody!

How cute is that face??? We've had her for a week now and its been awesome. She is so cute, obviously, and pretty good. She's definitely come out of her shell a little bit in the past week.



She lays like this a lot...weirdo.

 

Loves that hedgehog toy.

She does a lot more than just sleep, don't worry. We are working on sit, stay, and lay down right now. She has sit 95% of the time but she is very easily distracted. She will stay as long as she's not too disctracted and she can see us. Working on staying when we're out of sight. Lay down is very sketchy right now and we probably wouldn't bother with it until she completely has sit and stay but there are times we need her to lay down...like when we're eating or when she's going after Hamlet.

She is also very clingly and hates when John and I aren't both home and in the same room. If we're in different rooms she'll pace between us. During a workout over the weekend she laid down right next to me if I held still for more than 2 seconds.




Scooted in while I tried to do situps.



Elevated side plank with a leg lift...she tried to get right on my leg.

You can thank the last two years of working with preschool children for giving me the multitasking skills that allowed me to take a picture while working out.

Also, my camera is kinda messed up so all these pics are from my phone, my bad.

Anyway, best dog ever, she is awesome and I'm sorry if i talk about her all the time now the way I talk about running.


Life is Good

Please excuse my lack of a creative title. Actually I don't think I've ever come up with a creative title for these. Anyway. In the car this morning I was thinking about how my life was a year ago. To sum it up in one world; awful. Or, as awful as it can be for someone who has a roof over her head and never goes hungry. You get my point. Fortunately it was one of the worst points in my life (I have a pretty good track record). A large part of my unhappiness was my job. I know everyone has to work a job they hate at some point but I worked with kids and it was extremely hard for me to work in a place that didn't provide the best for them. I felt helpless and picked up some bad habits that I am still trying to get rid of eight months later.

Anyway, I am BEYOND thankful that I am out of that place and working in a school that I absolutely love. I love all my co-workers and my kids and their parents. So there's that. Also, a year ago, John and I were trying to pay for part of our wedding. We had help from my parents but we still had a decent chunk that we had to cover. Can you believe I'm 24 and not rich yet?? Me neither. Now that's all over and paid for so we feel a little less strapped.

Running! Like I could go an entire post without mentioning running. A year ago I was only able to run about two miles. Now...well right NOW I can't run anything because of my dang ITBS but normally I can churn out about eight miles with little effort.



Planned an 8mi run but my knee decided I
only needed to run one. I look like a duck when I pout.

 I'm also loving everything else about my fitness right now. I have found forms of cross and strenght training that I love and soccer will be starting up again soon!

Finally, Lana Del Rey. She is gorgeous. Fact.

Off to squeeze in an episode of Heros before bed. John bugged me to watch this show probably since we first me and I finally caved. Should've listened to him sooner, its one of those shows I could probably lose a weekend to!