No it isnt your thyroid or any other reason

Im a bit steamy from work today so I thought I'd right a post about it.

Most of my day to day activities involve mostly overweight woman who want to talk about weight loss.

They say to me...I cant seem to lose weight..There must be something wrong with me. Its got to be my thyroid. Then I ask them about how much exercise they do daily...

"Well I sit on my couch and use a rower with my arms or legs, and occasionally I use my Wii Fit."
me- well, are you working up a sweat for at least 30-40min daily

"I think so yeah" (YEAH, RIGHT)

ME- How are you eating?? Do you eat well balanced meals including lean meats, fresh fruits, veges and little snacking on free sweets??"

"Well, I think so. Yeah I will I admit I snack alot, and I eat late at night, But for the most part I eat well"

ME- in my head (YEAH RIGHT) well its all about nutrient timing and how you exercise. 90%  of weight gain is because of diet and exercise imbalance. You have to take in less calories and burn more to lose weight

"Well, I want my thyroid checked, and could I try some weight loss pills?"

ME--Diet and exercise will work just as well, there is no quick fix, it is a life long commitment to eating healthy and exercising. I will check your thyroid, but I doubt thats the cause of your OBESITY

It is an epidemic and it is hitting my Family Practice office!!! Help!! Im going insane!!

Ok...Im done now

Ithaca Outing

This morning I got up and headed out for my run early in the morning as to not take away from the day ahead. I set out for a 10 mile run but ended up doing 8.5 miles due to time constraints. I finally felt really good on my long run!!!! Progress!! Well it does help that the humidity was low and the temperature was low 70s this morning with a great breeze.

I felt great the whole run until I got home and started making a recovery breakfast. My stomack was very queesy. I thought about my last run and what I had done differently this time. This time I used PowerAId instead of my PowerBar drink. Ill never do that again. Need to stick with what works.

Took me 2 hours after my run to feel better.

It took us about an 1 1/2 hours to get to Ithaca and I was so excited to go. Because today I was going to get my Tri bike fit for me!!! I have been having some saddle soreness and also feeling too outstretched on it so felt it was worth the trip.

We got to the Science Center first and spent a couple hours being amazed by little science projects. I think I tried to put a puzzle of 7 blocks into a square about 80 times and still couldn't figure it out!!! We touched some star fish and hermit crabs, walked onto musical stairs, magified our skin, hair and pants to 300x. There was also a outdoor exhibit where my daughter lifted me off the ground with a lever pulley!! Strong 6 year old!! LOL!!

After our Science trek, we went to the Ithaca Commons for a nice Mexican Lunch then hit the Fingerlakes Running and Triathlon Co. This place is a little shop located in the Commons. This is where my bike fit was. I met one of the owners at a Running Mechanics talk he gave to the CNY tri club a while back. We got there early and perused the store. Not too shabby!! Has some great stock and I wanted alot in the store but knew if I needed anything for my bike, I should wait to make any purchases.

I got on the trainer and we spend a good 30-40 min just on my saddle!! This was most of the problem of course!! It was a toss up between 2 saddles but I decided to mount my bottom on a Adamo Round series Century X seat. I hope it will hold up for the long mileage!!! My seat was also sitting a little too high, but other than that my form on my bike was perfect!! I left the store happy with my purchases. I even got some nice smelling odor control for my tri shoes...PEEEUUUU those things stink!!!

I think I might need to save and purchase some new shoes next!!! ;0)

My first attempt

Not the best, not the worst either..

I finally attempted leaving my shoes on my bike and hopping on!!! Im still a little wobbly with the mounting but my dismount is good!!

I tried swinging my leg back the other way...It just wasn't happening for me, so Im going to swing it forward and hope I dont knock anyone over in the process..

Heres the video of my attempt...

Im so proud...I think I pranced and jumped around for a while saying "I did it!" to my boyfriend about a million times!!! My boyfriend is way better at mounting than I am but just the fact that I can do it means Im getting stronger and more confident as a triathlete!!

Henderson Harbor Sprint Triathlon Recap

It was certainly a great morning yesterday for a race, and having been preparing and training for the 70.3 I have some little races Im doing to really focus on transitioning and not panicking in the water.

Yesterday was the day I managed to do both fairly well!!!

Henderson Harbor is on Eastern Lake Ontario, Just a little over an hour North of Syracuse and about 17 miles west from Watertown area. Its really a relaxed, Picturesque, rural community. See more about this beautiful place at http://www.visit1000islands.com/

Ok back to the Tri. The cost of this Triathlon was very cheap and one of the reasons I chose it with all the other costs coming out of the expense pool this year. Also, the money raised funds for Children's Home of Jefferson County and CREDO Community Center

We arrived pretty early, about 7:15am as we had to pick up our race packet before 8:15a. I was number 123. I got body marked and out to the transition area to pick a good spot. Its nice to get to the transition area a little early because it helps to pick a spot that will make transition times faster. I picked a spot closer to the bike and run leg out and directly in the middle of the swim exit. Perfect. 

My Transition Area

Bike and Run Leg

This tri I wanted to try putting my shoes on the bike and take of from T1. I thought I was taking a risk but what the heck. Why not try it??

Me deciding to put my shoes on the bike

After viewing the course in my mind and how I wanted to do well, I settled into my wetsuit. It was hard getting it on as the humidity was starting to creep and I took a warm-up run before putting it on. I have been using Trislide and absolutely loving it. Its like a thin silicone layer that goes between your skin and the wetsuit. I like it better than BodyGlide. 

Game Faces- Mine is always Sweeter!!! :)

Next my boyfriend and I warmed up in the Lake. We went out to the first buouy which was about 200 meters away. It was cold at first but the water was so clear and calm it was a great warm-up swim.

We then listened to some announcements and got into the water. I wanted to try being up front and making people pass me. I settled into a spot a little inwards on the right hand side. The horn went off and we were on our way!! I got kicked and hit and jossled a bit at the beginning but maintained my composure. I couldn't find anyone my speed to draft off of so I basically spotted and swam my own race!!

Swim:  12:47 (600 meters)

I had a little fumble in swim out which I think cost me some time but not much..I almost stopped because I couldn't find my wetsuit zipper string.

T1- 59 sec (Fastest T1 EVER!!) executed

Bike mount- since I decided to try the shoes on the bike this time. I was a little nervous. got on my bike the regular way and was almost greaet until my left shoe fell right off my bike! I had to run a little ways to pick it up but made the time up on the bike!! The bike leg had a few climbs but nothing major. It was a 15.5 mile loop. Very scenic. The temperature was now creeping up a bit and I could feel it at the end of the bike leg

Bike 45:35 (3rd female fastest time!) over a 20 mile ave speed!

At the end of the bike leg, my feet came out of my shoes and on top. Executed!!

T2- 42 sec (Another fastest ever!!)

Run leg- this is were I bottom out. It was a 4 mile out and back course. I felt strong up until this point. I couldn't breathe as the heat pounding down and with no forgiveness in sight. I managed to run more slowly than I wanted to. I hate it when 8 women pass me because my run is slow. I definately need to work on this!! I feel everytime I run my asthma wants to take over. my legs wanna go but my lungs say NO WAY!!

Run- 39:15.

Total Time 1:39:18

Nice Mug!!

1st place in Age group. 13/73 females, 84/198 people.

Henderson Harbor

It was a great day today for a race!!! I set out to do well with no personal goal time in mind, just to feel well and to go with it as this was my first Sprint Triathlon of the season.

Needless to say I placed 1st in my age group!!!!! YES!!! My first ever!!

Race details to come...

Tour De France and training

http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html

What could be better than watching the Tour De France and Training on the trainer?!!!

I had the most enjoyable ride watching the Tour De France with my significant other while we were on our trainers trying to escape the 96 degree humid temps outside today. There was a heat index advisery in effect for New York today as temperatures soared into the upper 90s as it has been for the last couple days.

Alot of Crashes in the Tour the last Few Days...Geesh!!

My boyfriend and I have a few favorites in the Tour...of course Lance is my favorite, so is Schleck brothers...poor Frank Scheck broke his collarbone..hope everything heals well for him. Im also a favorite of Levi Leipheimer. I just cant decide who I like the most!! I wish they would air the Female Version of the Tour!!! But of course it isn't as popular! :(

I also tried getting in and out of my tri shoes as I was riding..I have made Progress...I might even try it at the Henderson Harbor Triathlon this weekend~

Back to Training

Last week was a frightful week. Tuesday morning I went out with other triathletes to our usual swim spot we were on our way back when I felt like I couldn't catch my breath, couldn't get air in. I yelled to a couple of people next to me and told them I couldn't breathe. They helped my back to shore. I kept my cool the whole way and was applauded by my efforts to remain calm even though I felt like someone sucked every bit of life out of me!

As we were sitting on shore, I kept coughing. Coughing to the point I was coughing up pink frothy sputum. All the way home in the car I was considering just taking myself to the ER because I still couldn't breathe. I finally made it home and had my boyfriend take me to the Urgent Care center by our house. Needless to say they didn't want to keep me there because of my condition so I was carried away on an ambulance to the ER.

AFter 10 hours in the ER, they finally diagnosed me with Viral Pneumonia. I had a total of 3 nebulizers, 2 IV antibiotics, a Chest xray, a CT scan of my chest and and ECHO. They thought maybe a blood clot to the lung at one point. Thank god that wasn't the case because my training probably wouldve been over for a while.

2 days post ER visit, my body decided against the antibiotics and I had a rash from head to toe!! I then needed a course of Prednisone which didn't sit well with my body, made me nauseas and wired at the same time. Kinda weird feeling.

I finally got the ok to get back to training from my doctor on Friday. I set out for a swim..did great. then a 30 min run which was great as well.

Since then I've watched the Tour De France, Had a bunch of cupcakes, potato salad, hamburgers and Hotdogs as it is 4th of July!!!

Ill start again tomorrow...possibly 10 pounds heavier!! LOL!!!