Pedal Faster

I can not believe that June is almost over!!! That means July is almost upon us..then August will be here...and before I know it September 12 will be here and I will be participating in my first triathlon with my beautiful sister, Erika! I'm nervous and excited and have a lot of training left today. Today, however, I made a great step towards my training and fitness journey in general. I purchased my first road bike!! :) My dear friend Krystal went with me as a shopping pal...and to try and help keep me on track..and to be a third and fourth ear! I went out today intending just to look around and scope out my options..but when I stumbled into (actually I'm pretty sure I was skipping inside) REI I fell into the hands of marvelous individuals who helped me in making my purchase! 

I was looking at their bikes with Krystal and a middle-aged man came up to me and asked if he could help...to which I said, "Yes!! I'm wanting to purchase a road bike eventually, however, I don't know a lot about bikes and so I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for!" This nice man told me he had been a road biker for quite some time and gave me so much useful information. He went over the basics of bikes...the different components...asked what I'd be using the bike for...helped me get fitted to the bike...and then once we found a frame that I liked and had components I was looking for he asked if I would like to take it for a test ride. At this point he was getting ready to leave for the day so he handed me over to the care of another gentleman that was just as helpful. He fitted me to the bike...taught me about the bike and how to do simple things that most individuals would not but I didn't...like how to shift, when to shift, what you should and shouldn't do while shifting etc...then he let me ride around to my hearts content! I was shocked at how unbelievably comfortable the bike felt the minute I set out...and I knew right then and there it was the bike I had been looking for :D 

So he asked me what I thought about it and I spilled my guts and said I loved it...plus the bike was on clearance..and once I saw that..well I was basically sold! The guy then took me around the store...he helped me pick out pedals. I chose clip-in pedals. I've had the pleasure of riding my brother-in-laws bike in Florida before and used his clip-in shoes and while it's immensely terrifying I know in the long run it'll be more beneficial for me! So in addition to purchasing a bike I bought pedals, shoes, padded shorts (big smiley face), bottle holder, pump, and I'm planning on attending some classes that REI has for free on how to perform basic maintenance on your bike!! I'm extremely excited about my purchase! Let me share a few pictures with you:

Why yes, I did just buy a bike!

...and then it hit me...I JUST BOUGHT A BIKE!!!!

Clip-ins!!!

I am glad I've been saving money specifically for this purchase...because it was indeed an investment...now it's just up to me to make sure I get my money's worth out of it all!! :) I already went for my first bike ride this evening and I'm in love! It was so peaceful, and beautiful. I think I only nearly killed myself only 4 times trying to get out of my pedals!! So I was doing pretty good if you ask me! Tomorrow is swim/run but I can't wait to ride again!!

status post bike ride!!

I have been enjoying cross-training. I think it keeps me more engaged at this time and I have fun with my workouts! I think my body also appreciates my change in pace. I didn't lose weight this week but last week I weighed in at 207 and that was 6 pounds down from what I had been at the week before. So I'm hoping to have a loss this coming week. Nutrition has been hit and miss...I haven't really had any binges...but I've also had days where I haven't made the greatest of choices...but it's getting better..and easier! Slowly but surely! I am determined to be below 200 pounds by the time I have this triathlon. I'm not putting a specific weight that I would like to be at by the time of the race..just below 200!! :D That's my goal! 

I have some good news to share...I got to go back to day shift! I only had to spend 2 weeks on nights. It was an answer prayer to get to go right back to day shift! I was already having trouble with my sleep schedule and had several nights last week where I fell asleep for a couple hours in the evening and then woke up at about 2 AM(ish) and couldn't sleep so both times that happened to me I ended up going for runs at about 0530 in the morning...and for those of you who know me well know that it's a miracle to get me out of bed that early if I don't have to be at work! Haha...but I really enjoyed my early morning runs...they were so cool, calm, peaceful, quiet, and allowed me to just enjoy the run, pray, think, and breathe easy! Here are a few pictures from my early morning run I did Sunday:

Those beautiful Sandia Mountains

Maybe you can spot the couple of balloons in the horizon!

Finished just in time for the sun to start shining!!

And that my dear reader is all I've got for the time being!! Taking it one day at a time!! 

That's Right...Another Post!

What?! Two days in a row you get to hear from me! This is a record...so enjoy it while it lasts! Yesterday after writing my post I eventually got off my booty and headed to the gym. I ran 3 miles and then swam 300 meters...I felt kind of lame because it was exhausting just swimming those consecutive laps...and knowing that I wasn't even a third of the way that I will be when it comes time for the tri was a little intimidating...thankfully, however, that is why I am training! :) 

While swimming I chipped my tooth because I was grinding my teeth really weird...and by the time I was aware of what I was doing I had already chipped my tooth...and then I skinned the top of my hand along the side of the pool wall...so me and swimming have a ways to go! One day at a time! Right!? :D

It wouldn't be so bad if I didn't know that I had to
care for patients tomorrow! 

Today I biked 8 miles and did strength training. It felt good. I think it really helps having something to train for and to look forward too...I'm also really enjoying mixing up my workouts. For so long I was just running day in and day out and I think I burned myself out...so knowing my runs aren't quite as big and long makes working out a lot easier. I definitely worked up a sweat today. I worked out with my friend Krystal and she was laughing at my butt sweat...and I figure y'all would get a kick out of it as well...so I took a booty sweat picture:

Good stuff right there!!

Tomorrow is my first night shift...so I think I'll probably sleep tonight, wake up, workout, do a little grocery shopping for my work week, and then come home and nap before my shift. So far today my diet has been in check...yesterday I tracked everything I ate...and today it has been the same. I've been really enjoying a popsicle after my workouts!! It's so refreshing and just enough sweetness to give me a little sugar satisfaction!! 

So that my dear friends is the latest and greatest! Slowly but surely...one day at a time!

Back amongst the living!

Well what do you know?! I still live and breath...and eat! :D It has been a while since I've had the time to write. Sorry to all who have thought I jumped off of the face of the earth and left you in the dark. I have been busy with my orientation on my new unit...which I absolutely love and adore. This week I transition over to night shift so prayers for smooth transition and adjusting to being a vampire again would be greatly appreciated! 

While I'm sure y'all are dying to hear all my work stories but I know that's not what you really come here to read....so I'll get down to the nitty gritty. I have been lazy. I have enjoyed being lazy. I have successfully gained and lost 10 pounds about 20 times these past few months and...while it was real and it was fun...it just wasn't real fun! So, time to stop selling myself short and time to get back on the saddle and finish what I started. Time to start making dreams come true again!

Today I cringed as I saw 213.4 on the scale. I don't really know what I expect to see since my diet has been far from stellar and my exercise has definitely been lagging lately. So I can't change what is done and what hasn't been done...but I can change what I do from here on out. 

My time-off in September was approved and as some of y'all may remember there is a triathlon in Gulf Shores, Alabama that my sister, Erika was telling me about. This triathlon has a 1.5k swim, 40k bike, and 6 mile run. I have been wondering if I could really be ready by the time this triathlon is scheduled to occur...September 12, to be precise...but after a phone call to my sister I have been convinced that I'm more than capable of training for this!

I've been doing my homework and found a training plan that I really like the looks of. It consists of working out basically 6 days a week and has AM and PM workouts which I think will work well with my work schedule...so I can go for a swim before going into work and then run outside when I get home in the mornings. Or go for a bike ride before or after I work. I need to purchase a road bike...I'm hoping to make my big purchase within the next week or so!

I have been running..normally around 3 miles about 3 times a week...but I have been eating way more than I've been burning...hence my not-so-shocking weigh-in. I can feel the weight in my stomach, see it in my face, and feel the sluggishness in general and I'm tired of it. I was looking back at my pictures from my Dallas 5K...and I don't think I ever shared them on my blog! So I shall share them now with y'all!! Hope you enjoy...and I'll write again soon!

Hahaha...selfie after "the poop disaster"

I think the lady's face to the left of Erika sums up the way I smelt here!

I love this picture...my face says it all...this is probably 0.2 miles left in the run!
I can still hear Erika saying, "don't stop Maggie...go catch up with David!"

And so I did...but not without having a mini hissy fit before! :)

And the pain was worth it

I like to call us the dream team...making dreams come true...
one day at a time!

I like that they let us customize our bibs, "Fight to Fit"