On My Mind

I haven't written in a while.  Sometimes I'm motivated to get something on here and sometimes (most times) I would like work out or sleep than write something on here.  I wish I could just think something and have it translated into words and posted on here.  I do like having a sort of diary of my activities and thoughts but it's just more work to do to put it to paper (or blog).

Anywho, quick overview of what's on my mind:

I'm fat.  OK, not obese or anything.  But, for being involved in endurance sports and trying to compete, I am fat.  This is relative to my current situation, so no one get in a tizzy.  I've gained a lot of weight (for me) and have decided to do the Isagenix 9 day cleanse.  I hope it works because that -ish is not cheap, or really even reasonable if I'm being honest.  But, if it works and kick starts me losing weight then I can at least say it was worth it.
Details of current sitchiation (yes, I misspelled that on purpose):  Current weight is 125.6 (that was this morning).  I was 127 on Monday afternoon.  Even the 125 is 10 pounds heavier than I was during B2B 2.5 years ago and 16 pounds heavier than I was when I was in tip-top shape (108, 14% bf, 2008).  I would like to get between 110 and 115.  Specifically, around 112 +/- 2 pounds and at 14% bf +/- 1%.  I know 108 is almost un-achievable at this point since my bone structure has changed.  I know this because when I was 108, I wore a 32A comfortably.  Now, a 34B is comfortable when I have it on the loosest latch.
Action plan:

• No carbs at night unless I have a big training day in the morning.  
• No breakfast before morning workouts.  If the workout is longer than 90 minutes then I will have something or bring a gel, depending on the length, intensity, and type of the training session.  I have been doing this for 3 weeks now.  I thought that I would be super hungry during my workouts.  Especially the mornings that I had spin or swimming.  But, so far I have not felt hungry or un-energized during my workouts.  
• Isagenix 9-day detox.  The 9 day detox users have an average of 7 pounds lost.  So, if I can lose at least 4 pounds then I will consider that successful and will think about doing the 30 day weight loss plan to lose the remaining 8 - 10 pounds.
• Adding 2+ strength training sessions to my weekly workouts.  I currently do 1 day with Jon for functional strength training, so this is in addition to that.  I have been going to the gym during my lunch breaks on Tuesday and Wednesday or Friday for 30 - 40 minutes of just pure strength training - dead lifts, squats, leg press, pull ups, curls, tri extensions, etc.  Nothing fancy, just working on strength.  This is because you burn more fat with more muscle.  I have been doing this for 3 weeks now too.  

I'm trying out a new gym - Harbour Island Athletic Club.  They are expensive.  But, they have everything I need (classes, weights, and pool) in one place and it's only 2 miles from where I live.  Currently I have 2 gym memberships - one at Powerhouse which is 1 mile away and is strictly weights and cardio; the other is at LA Fitness which has everything I need, but the closest one is 5 miles from my house, is usually crowded, and sometimes charges me $5 because it's a Signature Club of which I am not a member.  Between Powerhouse and LA Fitness I pay $70/mo.  HIAC is $125.  Like I said, it's expensive.  I've tried it out for a week and so far it's been pretty nice.  I don't have to wake up quite as early in the morning to go swimming and it takes me hardly any time to get home (7 min to be exact).  Meanwhile, the closest LA Fitness on a good day with the light's being nice and there being little traffic, a one-way trip will take me 20 minutes.  That's 40 minutes minimum out of my day just to go swim.  I tried out a group class today and it was great.  Reminded me of a boot camp class I used to take at Bally's about 6 years ago and I think contributed significantly to being in such great shape at the time.  Everyone has been really nice too.  The front desk people, the members, and the trainers.  So, that's that.  Daniel's not into spending $100 to join that gym, but he gets 2 free months with me and then he can move over to Powerhouse or whatever.  I was hoping we would get to work out together, but after the 2 month free trial for Daniel I'm not sure that is going to happen.

Race updates:

I somehow hurt my Achilles during Charleston Marathon.  Running RnR New Orleans 2 weeks later and then Gasparilla Half Marathon 2 weeks after that didn't help.  So, I am still trying to take it easy.  Easy meaning my longest run since Gasparilla has been 4 miles, one time, last weekend.  I have decided not do to the Sarasota Half Marathon even though I really like that race.  But, I need more rest on my Achilles/ankle and more time on my bike.  Jon is going to get a group together the same weekend to ride the bike course of Haines City 70.3.  So, that will be more beneficial to me than running Sarasota.  I am also dropping from the Half Distance to the Olympic Distance for HITS Ocala which is 2 weeks before Haines City.  And, I signed up for the Hurricane Man 2.4 mile swim on 5/3.  I have no goal for the swim.  I told Jon that I don't even want to train specifically for it.  Meaning I don't want extra training time devoted to swim just for this race.  I am doing it so that I can skip a pool session :) and to get a feel for a 2.4 mile open water swim in preparation for IMFL.  I would like to try to swim it how I would any long race (at about 80 - 85% of max) and see where I come in at.  I never give 100% in the swim of a race because it wears me out too much.  I like to build in my races.  Meaning, I start out at about 85% of max for the swim, progress to about 95% of max for the bike and then give whatever I have left for the run.  This works great for the longer distances, for me.  For the sprints and sometimes even the Olympic distance races, it's balls-to-the-wall all out effort until the end.