Food Log for Nov 18

November 18:

Breakfast:

Small bowl of Wheaties with skim milk

Snack:

Medium banana

Lunch:
Beef ravioli with fresh mushroom and tomato sauce

Dinner:
Wildtree Jambalaya with sausage, chicken and shrimp

Drink:

Water

24oz Hammer HEED

Workout:
Cycling 1hr 11miles
Ab/core 15mins
Yoga 5mins

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING MY DREAMS A REALITY!

Food Log for Nov 17

November 17:

Breakfast:

small bowl of Wheaties with skim milk

Snack:

3 Pure Chocolate Whippets

Lunch:

2 Corn Dogs with 2 tbsp of bbq

2 tbsp of Nutella

1 medium banana

1 large Fuji Apple

Dinner:

Organic Whole Grain Grilled Cheese

1 cup Tomato Soup

2 stalks of celery with peanut butter

Drink:

Water

1 cup coffee, 3 tsp sugar and F. Vanilla Creamer

Workout:

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING MY DREAMS A REALITY!

Turkey Day Madness

Oh my oh my, this Thanksgiving is already turing out to be so busy and we do not even our household goods.  We are headed to three turkey dinners, the first one is Sunday afternoon at church.  I think its going to be fun and eventful with some of our fellow catholics.  Then we have a couple days to do the family thing, train, school, you know the usually weekly madness, but toward the end of the week its going to pick up like a mad man.

Wednesday we are headed to the USO to help set up for their annual Thanksgiving celebration on Thursday.  They usually server around 500 - 700 people every year.  It is such a huge event that they start at noon and usually run out of food by 3pm even though its supposed to go from 12-5pm.

Then on Thursday we are headed back to the USO to enjoy some of their yummy deliciousness.  See some of our fellow volunteers and active duty members and their families.  Then we are headed off to hand out with my girlfriend Samantha and her family.

There is Turkey Trot on base, a 5K or a 1.5 miler to help work off all of the turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and yams that have been consumed that day.  Plus the best part is I get 10 points in my team challenge for taking part in the Turkey Trot.

I'm already exhausted just writing all of this and thinking about what I have coming up in the next week. I hope everyone has a wonderful and fulfilling Thanksgiving.

Team PRS FIT Challenge

I mentioned that my tri coach was doing a Maintain Don’t Gain Over The Holidays Team PRS FIT Challenge! for our team this year, trust me I did see posts below,  and that I was going to blow this challenge out of the water.  Well to keep myself accountable I am posting the challenge up here to I can get friendly reminders for my friend who are keeping tabs and helping me keep myself accountable.


I will keep track of my own points on this contest. 

• 20 points for NOT gaining weight from start Nov 15 - Jan 15
• 2 points for each day I do my workout & log it even if it's a rest day
• 1 point if I log even if I do not get my workout done
• 10 points for a little local race around Thanksgiving
• 5 points for healthy recipe submitted (limit 3)
• 10 points for December bike challenge..more info to follow

As of Nov 17th I have 6 points, and there still is a long way to go.  I know with my wonderful and understanding family, my supportive friends, I can make this happen.  It's just going to take some determination, dedication, and commitment.

Food Log for Nov 16

November 16:

Breakfast:

Small bowl of Wheaties(R) with skim milk

Snack:

1 medium bananas

Lunch:

Taco sandwich (ground beef, spinach, cheese, cream cheese & salsa mix)

Piece of pizza

Snack:

6 milk chocolate Lindor Truffles

Dinner:

1/4 cup of flank steak

5 stalks of asparagus

1/4 cup of couscous

biscuit

Dessert:

Crepe with strawberry

Drinks:

20 oz Hammer HEED

12 oz Hammer Recoverlite

6 oz Landshark beer

10 oz skim milk with strawberry flavoring

WATER

Workout:

Elliptical 30 min 3K

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING MY DREAMS A REALITY!

Awesome News and Help Needed

Let's start with the most awesome news so far.  My name was pulled out for the Chesapeake Bay 4.4 mile swim! JEAH!! I was so excited to get my email, I had to send off my qualification results and pay my entry fee and TA-DAAAA I'm in.  Here I come Maryland, look out now cause its going to get crazy.

I also am in the Rhode Island 70.3 and I can't wait.  My training is going along great Also my team is having an in-team challenge not to gain weight during this holiday season. I told them they all can bring it, I am going to tear this challenge up.  I'm going to tear this challenge up!  I've got weight and time to lose, so its on!

I know that I have a ton of weight to lose, so I'm going to start keeping a food journal online.  It will be a weekly journal kept here to hold me accountable.  But here is the thing, I need help being kept accountable.  So here is your task should you choose to accept it: if I do not log my food I need emails to blow up my inbox and comment section.  Also if you see an issue with what I'm eating please let me know, where and what changes I can make.   So are you willing to help me.

Food Log for Nov 15

November 15:
Breakfast:

Snack:
2 medium bananas

Lunch:
Ravioli

Dinner:
Tex-Mex slider w/ pepper-jack and american, 2 slices of avocado (mayo, mustard, bbq, and ketchup about 1tbsp each)
1/2 cup baked potato fries
Huge Salad, probably about 3 cups, with about 2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinaigrette

Dessert:
Crepe with strawberries

Drink:
24 oz Hammer HEED
12 oz Hammer Recoverlite
WATER

Workout:
Run 2.45 miles in 0:51
Total Body Workout 0:45


 THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN MAKING MY DREAMS A REALITY!

Cheer Squad Essentials

When a big race is on the horizon, you start to think about what you can do on the day to support your loved one. The race may be local, or you may be travelling by car or plane to the race location. A few times, I have not planned ahead and found myself racing around a strange town looking for something, anything, that I can use as supporter clothes or cheer tools. Below are some suggested items I have used or seen be used. There is always a group of people who seem so much more organised than you - but you don't need much to make a fuss! Feel free to let me know of any I have missed!

MAKE BEFORE THE DAY

• Support Crew T-Shirts - these can be made or ordered if you are organised. If you are organised there is a lot of online businesses who print to order tees with your own names, numbers, slogans and photos. If you are not so organised, grab an old or cheap tee and some t-short pens or paints and get creative!
• Signs - use paint on sheets or fabric if you have somewhere to hang it or use paints/pens/crayons on cardboard. Some events provide banners and board and sticks and an area to put them up. Hang them off your balcony or on your car if you are on the race course.

 ON THE DAY

• Clappers - these are sometimes handed out and are great entertainment for kids - and useful after hours of clapping as hands start to ache! Bells and maraccas also work well.
• Chalk - write messages to your loved ones on the roads and pavements.

IF YOU ARE OS OR AT INTERNATIONAL EVENT

• Get patriotic and take with you your nations flag, flag stickers and tatoos for kids to wear, or maybe some patriot tees and caps. 

Courtesy of Triathlon TitBits 

The Supporters Gear Check list

SUPPORTER GEAR

Essentials for the day

• Camera or two  - you may be requested to video and photograph ( not easy!)   Don't forget to charge and have extra disk/film.
• Watch - you may be required to watch times - so stop watch useful.
• Small pad and pen - you may also be required to keep track of the times, or write down expected times so you can calculate when to be expected at each viewing location.
• Backpack 
• Drink Bottle
• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Course Map
• Money
• Snacks
• Poncho and/or umbrella
• Small binoculars (maybe not needed it you have super duper SLR camera)

If you have kids

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Fly/mosquito spray (depending on location of race)
• Snacks and drinks
• Warm jackets and beanies (for early morning) and rain gear just in case!
• Entertainment - whatever you can carry around (books, pencils and paper, ball)
• Swimsuits and towel if race is near beach and it's hot enough.

If you are traveling by car to event - and like to base yourself in one spot

• Torch for early morning
• Esky with cold drinks
• Fold up chairs
• Rug (ideally with plastic base)
• Sun umbrella/tent 

Courtesy of Triathlon TitBits 

Tips for the loved ones supporting an Ironman

1. You will get used to it!

2. Use the time that they are training (if it's not when you are sleeping!) as your time in the week to schedule catch ups with either other Ironman widows/widowers and their kids, or other friends (with or without kids). Best to get out of house and do something than sit at home wondering when they will be back!

3. Don't complain -  to them! You may have had to juggle a few kids and manage a few tantrums but you were not out doing a 180km bike ride or 42km run.....which you probably would not want to do...so best that neither of you complain but each needs to be aware and understanding of each others situation.

4. Make sure they have a rest day and don't let them train when they are sick!!

5. Make sure they schedule kid time and you time amongst all the other scheduling!

6. If they have had a big training session on the weekend, work out how they can get a 30 min siesta before dragging them out to do chores, play with kids or visit friends - they will be happier and last longer! 

7. Their race means a holiday for you and family to a new destination....

7. Pre-Race - there may be moods, there may be stresses, try not to take it to heart. Be there to help and take control of their packing and organizing lists if this helps but also let them work thru the build up and nerves and only say things and do things that are helpful. Don't bother with unimportant things and trivia  they are focussed!

8. Race Day - do the final check for them before you walk out the door otherwise you are the one who will be racing back to hotel room to collect the bottles!! Be positive, cheer them on, enjoy the day, appreciate how much it took them and you to get to this day and savour the first finish as it will be emotional! Remember they would not have made it there with out you - and this is a big achievement for them!

9. Ignore it when they say "Never again" after the race - wait for a week - they'll be back - it is addictive!!

Top 6 Ironman Tips! 

1.    Rule # 1. A HAPPY SPOUSE = HAPPY TRAINING.

2.    See rule # 1.

3.    Don’t complain. Yes it will hurt but no one will care cause you were silly enough to voluntarily sign up for this ridiculous event.

4.    Get a coach. Reading articles in magazines and talking to your mate at the pub probably isn’t the best way to prepare for a 226km race.

5.    Don’t set a time goal. Most first time competitors miss their target time and feel someone disappointed. Believe me, you’ll be very happy to cross the finish line!

Courtesy of Triathlon TitBits

Do you know what today is?

Well do you? Today is the day that the Great Chesapeake Bay 4.4 mile swim begins pulling for its lottery.

And guess who's name is in the bin for the drawing?  ME! that's who, and Donna, Sherry, Amy R and Amy C.  We are all in the drawing and we are all anxiously waiting to receive our emails to from the GCBS.  Please keep me in your thoughts, hopefully I'll get in along with the other lovely ladies.  I'll let you know as soon as I hear.

Hammer Nutrition

Are you an endurance athlete that is looking to fuel your body before, during, and after a big race or during training?  Tired of the taste of other sports drinks or do not like the way they make you feel when you drink them?  Try out Hammer Nutrition.  Hammer Nutrition is vegan, kosher and tastes delicious.  It does not affect blood sugars like other products do, so that means it diabetes friendly (Hammer Nutrition FAQ's).

I love my Hammer Nutrition and now you can too.  Click here and check out what is available, place your order and enjoy the wonderful benefits of Hammer Nutrition.

New to Hammer Nutrition? Save 15% on your first order by clicking here and placing your order, save and enjoy everything that Hammer Nutrition has to offer.

Watch out now, cause here I come

I did it I'm headed to Amica Ironman 70.3 in Providence, Rhode Island.  I am so beyond excited, I really don't know how to contain myself, and then I have to workout and it all gets contained.  What even better about this is its my 'A' race of the year.  I am going all out for this event.  I'm inviting friends and family to come see me race, I'm making it a weekend in Providence with my family (even though its about an hour away from our new home), I even made shirts for my family.

Seeing as how I could not do this or accomplish all of this with out them, I thought this shirt is very fitting.  So far my family has loved the design and are looking forward to wearing the shirts.

Oh, I just ordered my very first Garmin. I am really excited about, I was torn between Garmin Forerunner 310XT and the Garmin Forerunner 305.  I wanted one that was able to keep up with all three of my sports and that could handle a little bit of a beating.  Now I realize that Garmins are not supposed to be dropped or banged on but it needs to be a little rugged.  Granted the 305 isn't water proof and the 310XT, but after talking with a number of people I can have different alternatives that would allow me to still use the 305 properly without ruining it.  Well I ordered my new toy and its on its way here now!  I am so incredibly excited about it.  Oh well maybe I should tell you which one I choose, huh?  Well here it is:

(its the Garmin Forerunner 305)

The most important I learned was when I am doing an open water swim, I should put the 305 in my cap. Now I would not have thought about that, so as soon as I heard that I'm even more excited to use it.  Should I get more into triathlons and find out what the 305 can and can't do, I might consider upgrading to the 310XT, but that will come much further down the road.

On a different note, I have signed up to become an ambassador for The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.  This is very exciting for me, I have had many members in my family and some friends personally affected by cancer.  I want to do my part and this is one of the best ways for me to help.  I have to raise money and race in a triathlon or 2, to help young adults connect with other young adults going through cancer as well.  Now on my page I have this icon:

By clicking on the Team Fight icon it will take you to my fundraising page where you can help me make the lives of those fighting cancer just a little bit easier.  I will racing in the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon in Columbia, Maryland on August 21st, 2011.  I have always wanted to race in an Iron Girl and what a better way to race in this event by raising money for cancer.

As you can see I have many things coming up in next year.  I will talk with you all again soon.