Already caved...

So i was a little upset about some things and in true Lauren fashion made a batch of cookies. But I don't just "make a batch of cookies." Oh no... I ate a ton of the batter because let's face it, what's the point cooking it when the batter is just so damn good! Plus waiting 13 minutes... ok moving on...

Ate batter and 4 cookies. Crap already failing at this slightly.

So instead of "crying over spilt milk" I changed back into workout clothes, blasted some music in the house, grabbed my set of bands and did a 30 min HIIT workout in the living room. Felt better but noted to not make this a habit... punishment is rough when HIIT is involved.

In case you don't know what HIIT is, here's the wiki on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-intensity_interval_training

In case you want to follow along my workouts here is what I did:
Warm up:
Alternating between jumping jacks, jog in place, high knees, and butt kicks 20 seconds each for a total of 1:40
Workout:
4 rounds of this set 20 seconds go 10 seconds rest
Push ups
Squats
Alt toe touch crunches
Hypers
Burpees
Jumping jacks
Seated Rows
Sprint in Place

Day 1

Got my butt (which doesnt look so good in these black yoga pants anymore) over to the gym for 45 minutes of cardio. Split it between Stepmill, Precor, and Treadmill. No running happened so don't get excited just yet. Can't remember the last time I looked in the mirrors in the gym and hated what I saw. Good job lazy lauren...

High five to me on eating so far today! plain oats with honey and peanut butter for breakfast, then brown rice, spinach, evoo, parmesan, egg, and cajun spice for post workout lunch.

Here's the challenge!!!!!!

So I'm going to train myself back to health and fitness. Crap this is going to suck.

Where I'm at today....
186lbs
I can run a mile (I think)
Pushups are not happening

WOW 4 months killed it all... I was at 168lbs when I moved here and easily running 5 miles on a mountain trail!

The challenge... drop to 165lbs and complete a half marathon on a trail (yes Ian... I am doing it this time!)

The obstacles looming:
Injuries- shoulders and posture, as well as a recently busted ankle that jacked up my right leg.
Diet- funds are not that great these days so we will have to learn how to eat healthy on a budget (guess I should re-read my own TEAM newsletters from last year?) As well as having a roommate (ok soon 2 roommates) who don't have the best eating habits (hello temptation- and sorry Jods if you're reading this!). Also I love going out to eat and cooking with my best friend Pat but again bad eating habits he has (he hates most veggies too).
Time- Work 6 day weeks, have a dog, doing this blog, working on my new website as well as a new business venture in another state, and there's a boy (when is there not?).
Weather- It's about to start getting really hot here in Arizona, which means I have to run really early in the morning or start to like the treadmill. Boo early morning runs!

Now that I've stated the obstacles I'm not allowed to whine about them again. :(

My clients are going to enjoy this way too much....

Sadist, Satan's spawn, mean Lauren, crazy, masochist, the devil behind the smile... I have been called them all. Nearing 7 years as a personal trainer and hundreds of clients, I still look back and laugh at all the names my dear suffering clients have called me in the midst of their 5 set of lunges at 6am. Many times during a rest this was followed with "it's easy for you because you're naturally in shape and you work in a gym all day" which I always laughed off or pointed out that I had lost about 25 lbs a few years back after a tough year (I dropped it in 2 months from over training and under eating mind you).

Oh how I wish I could take all those laughs back now because the tables are turning...

In case you haven't been kept in the loop, or you don't know me and are reading this for a good laugh and some inspiration, let me do a quick recap of my life in health and exercise...

I've been a personal trainer on and off for about 7 years but took a job with Life Time Fitness in March 2006 just shy of 21 years old. I've worked with a wide variety of clients from young athletes to models to rehabilitative injuries to older guys wanting to convince themselves that can still look 20 :) and to many many many weight loss clients. I've worked all sides of the fitness triangle... nutrition, strength training, and cardiovascular training. I was a volleyball player in high school and became a gym rat after graduating. I got into running December of 2007, did a few road and trail races, and even had a running coach that some early mornings on a track I wanted to throw my shoe at (love you Ian). Once I became a runner I was always feeling great and stayed in shape.

Fast Forward to August 2009...
I packed up my apartment and puppy in Centreville, Virginia and drove 3 looong days to Phoenix, Arizona. What I thought was going to be a huge upswing in my life (awesome weather, low cost of living, beautiful Life Time Tempe club, lots of mountains to run on and keeping the money I made so I could have fun) turned out to be... well not so much. I was in a disaster of a club, the program I was brought in to run was bulldozed before I got there (first paycheck $300) and I couldn't find a way of out the quick sand. So on November 3rd 2009 I did what I thought I would never do... I walked about from my job at Life Time and the career I loved. Crying ensued... blah blah let's move on.

So the past 4 months have flipped my whole life and how I live it out of balance. Insanely low income (thank you too many friends and family who helped me out the past few months I love you all dearly) no gym (ah!) poor eating habits, what I cant wear sneakers and running shorts to work? I felt like crap, I was very depressed, my workouts grew farther and farther apart (finally got a gym membership again late December 2009) and hello weight gain and poor endurance. And well my spandex yoga pants just don't look so hot anymore.

So now its time for a taste of my own medicine.....