Gotta start somewhere

I'm a little embarrassed to reveal to the entire universe a.ka. the World Wide Web that my running pace is a tad bit on the ridiculously slow side. For example, today I ran 3.68 miles in 51:02 minutes... yielding an average of... wait for it... 13:52 min/mile! Pretty darn slow. Well, I have to think positive. At least I "ran" (with quotes) all the way through. Some people do the sprint-and-walk thing, not because they are practicing tempo runs but because they just can't pace themselves, and I consider that cheating. There, I said it!

By the way, I've been posting all of my work-outs and runs on a training log on www.mapmyrun.com. I'll look into seeing if I can make this public.

Back from my hiatus!

I haven't been posting on this blog as much, but that doesn't mean I haven't kept up with my running or working out. Lately, I've been working 60-70 hour weeks due to new projects at work (including one that is allowing me to go to Las Vegas for a week to coordinate a technical conference, all on IBM's dime!).... So, because of this, the frequency and intensity of my workouts aren't what they've been in been in the past, but I have managed to squeeze in at least 1-2 workouts a week, mixing in 3 mile runs with 1 mile sprints and other cardio workouts. And I'm pretty happy with that.

The point is, I am trying to keep up with the running I started 3 years ago .... And, I just registered to run the Capitol 10K again this April! :) Here is my blog entry from when I finished this race in 2008.

Week of May 31 - June 6

• Sunday, 5/31
  Exercise: none
  Diet: late breakfast: Vietnamese beef noodle soup. lunch: grilled chicken snack wrap with ranch dressing. late afternoon snack: uncooked ramen noodles, corn on the cob. dinner: chips & salsa, 3 beers
• Monday, 6/1
  Exercise: none
  Diet: breakfast: small cup of coffee. lunch: pizza, Vitamin Water 10. pre-dinner snack: Vietnamese pork cold cuts. late dinner: Vietnamese beef noodle soup
  

Week of May 26 - 30 (first week back from yet another weekend of gluttony)

• Tuesday, 5/26
  Exercise: Sprinted 1 mile in 9:41 minutes. Worked out on exercise bike for 30 minutes, targeting 123 - 153 heart rate (10.7 miles)
  Diet: Breakfast: small cup of coffee, Luna bar. Late Lunch: 1/2 turkey & swiss sandwich on multi-grain bread. Late afternoon snack: 1/4 turkey & swiss sandwich, South Beach snack bar. Dinner: leftover pasta salad, two mini cucumbers, a banana, and a few pieces of beef jerky
  The " scientific metrics":
  Weight: 141.6 lbs
  Waist: 31 inches
  Hips: 36.5 inches
• Wednesday, 5/27
  Exercise: Lifted upper body free weights (Duration: 35 minutes)
  - 6 sets x 20 reps bicep curls (8 lbs, one arm each: 2 lower, 2 upper, 2 full)
  - 4 sets x 20 reps tricep extensions (8 lbs, both arms together)
  - 4 sets x 20 reps tricep extensions (16 lbs, both arms together)
  - 10 sets x 20 reps crunches
  Diet: Breakfast: Luna bar. Lunch: 1/2 turkey & swiss sandwich on multi-grain bread. Afternoon snack: 1/4 turkey & swiss sandwich. Late afternoon snack: South Beach snack bar. Dinner: one spicy tuna roll, one salmon roll, edamame, two glasses of Michelob Ultra. Late evening snack: a few pieces of beef jerky
• Thursday, 5/28
  Exercise: none
  Diet: Late breakfast: a banana. Pre-lunch snack: another banana. Lunch: South Beach snack bar. Late lunch snack: Luna bar. Pre-dinner snack: leftover pasta salad. Dinner: seared Ahi tuna salad, chips & salsa, ... and a drink or five... =)
• Friday, 5/29
  Exercise: none
  Diet: Late breakfast: Vitamin water. Lunch: vegetable soup and Baked Lays. Early afternoon snack: Luna bar. Late afternoon snack: uncooked ramen noodles. Dinner: Phara's Lamb La Zeez (grilled lamb, basmati rice, with roasted habanero garlic sauce), hummus, pita bread
• Saturday, 5/30
  Exercise: Ran 3.02 miles, 39:44 minutes (13:09 min/mile)
  Diet: Breakfast: none. Lunch: a small bowl of fried rice with low-fat Chinese sausage and lean flank steak, baby bok choy soup, with pickled baby eggplants
  

Memorial Day Weekend log

• Thursday, 5/21
  Exercise: Worked out on elliptical trainer for 60 minutes (4.84 miles).
  Lifted weights for upper-arm toning.
  - Tricep Press Machine - 3 sets x 15 reps (50 lbs, both arms together)
  - Bicep Curl Machine - 3 sets x 15 reps (20 lbs, both arms together)
  Diet: Breakfast: skipped(bad). Lunch: light creamy potato & sausage soup, salad with Italian dressing, 2 breadsticks. Dinner: lean pocket, 5 lychee jellies, Bueno hazelnut chocolate wafer bar (a Spanish version Kit Kat), half a bag of uncooked instant ramen noodles (God, it gets worse and worse...), a few (like, 4) kettle-cooked jalapeno potato chips, unsalted almonds, dried cranberries
• Friday, 5/22
  Exercise: none
  Diet: Breakfast: none. lunch: grilled chicken southwest salad with 1/2 packet of creamy spicy dressing. Afternoon snack: half a grilled chicken wrap, a third of a fried (damnit!) chicken sandwich. Dinner: a little bit of hummus, a spring salad with Italian dressing, two plates of spaghetti & meat sauce (eek!), 3 slices of french baguettes, 3 of Sarah's famous "low fat" cranberry & white chocolate oatmeal cookies, and half a slice of a fruit cream tart. .... oh, and a couple of bottles of Dos Equis beer (but, it was so worth it)
• Saturday, 5/23
  Exercise: Worked out on elliptical trainer for 60 minutes (4.98 miles)
  Diet: Breakfast: a bottle of water (so, none, again). Lunch: asiago bagel with reduced fat sun-dried tomato cream cheese, a bowl of vegetarian vegetable soup, a piece of french baguette. Dinner: (... what's the point...) lots and lots of eggrolls (I probably ate about a dozen), beef fajitas, beef jerky, two of Sarah's famous "low fat" cranberry & white chocolate oatmeal cookies, and half a slice of Oreo cheesecake.
  The "scientific metrics":
  Weight: 140.0 lbs
  Waist: 30 inches (hm... am I measuring myself correctly)
  Hips: 36.25 inches
• Sunday, 5/24
  Exercise: Ran 3.02 miles, 39:29 minutes (13:04 min/mile... arg, so slow! even though it was my first time running .. in THREE months... I thought I could have done better)
  Diet: Late breakfast: eggs, 3 pieces of turkey sausage, a couple pieces of bacon, hashbrowns, tortilla. Lunch: one bratwurst, one hotdog, German potato salad, baked beans. Afternoon "happy hour": 4 glasses of Moscato =) Dinner: grilled chicken breast, pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil
• Monday, 5/25
  Exercise: Walked for 35 minutes
  Diet: Breakfast: 2.5 breakfast tacos, 2 waffles (no syrup). Pre-lunch snack: two of Sarah's famous "low fat" cranberry & white chocolate oatmeal cookies. Pre-lunch snack part 2: a few pieces of dried squid. Late lunch: pho with lean tai meat, small bowl of rice with braised lean pork and quail eggs. Dinner: pasta salad with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil

So, the net of this Memorial Day weekend is: A LOT of eating... but I was able to fit in some kind of work-out between meals - not that it negates all the eating, but I would still consider this a success (especially if you know how the Dangs eat...)

My Goals

I don't necessarily believe in tracking progress through weight (much less on the freakin' internet), but I'm recording it here for some level of "scientific" measurement and objectivity...

• Starting Weight: 141.6 lbs
• Starting Waist: 32 inches
• Starting Hips: 36.5 inches

....... but you know what, damnit? Today, my form-fitting shirt and slacks fit quite nicely, and cross my heart, I honestly felt I looked slimmer in them. I also could feel my hip bone under a noticeably thinner layer of skin/fat, and my stomach didn't seem to bulge out as much as it usually does.

Whatever. For the sake of science and objectivity, here are my goals:

• Lose 5 lbs before Boston trip.
• Lose 2 inches in waist.
• Lose 2 inches in hips.

Can I do it????

Monday 5/11
Elliptical Trainer - 60 min (4.8 miles)

Tuesday, 5/12
Upper body weight training
- 6 sets x 20 reps bicep curls (8 lbs, one arm each: 2 lower, 2 upper, 2 full)
- 8 sets x 20 reps tricep extensions (8 lbs, both arms together)
- 10 sets x 20 reps crunches
(Duration: 30 min)

Thursday, 5/14
NYC! A lot of walking =) .... but a lot of eating =(

Friday, 5/15
NYC! A lot of walking =) .... but a lot of eating =(

Saturday, 5/16
NYC! A lot of walking =) .... but a lot of eating =(

Sunday, 5/17
NYC! A lot of walking =) .... but a lot of eating =(

Wowzas!! It's been over 2 months since I've worked out! .... But then again, I haven't been recording that month of Bikram yoga (hot yoga in a room heated to over 100 degrees)!!! But still. Need to get back into shape. This is getting ridiculous.

Goal: Look good at Vince and Trimi's Boston wedding in June... Hmm... I should define a more specific goal, something with metrics, like with inches or pounds. TBD.

Monday, 5/4
Elliptical Trainer - 60 min (4.79 miles)

Thursday, 5/7
Elliptical Trainer - 60 min (4.80 miles)

Saturday, 5/9
Elliptical Trainer - 60 min (4.97 miles)

One month to get back into shape before Boston trip....

Getting back to running

Saturday, 2/21

• 3.02 miles - 38:13 minutes
• Average pace: 12:39 min/mile
  

February 12 - 17

• 2 days in Vancouver - BEAUTIFUL CITY

Vancouver is a BEAUTIFUL city. I think it a good balance of city and nature. I'm not much of a shopper, and even I could appreciate all the shopping options in the city. (I've never seen so many shoe stores on one street in my life.) It's nice shopping in downtown Vancouver, and looking up to see the snow-capped peaks of the mountains in the distance. You never see that in Texas.

• 3 days of snowboarding in Whistler

It was probably a really bad idea to do so much shopping and sightseeing in Vancouver because on the morning of our snowboarding trip, I woke up feeling really sore. That was not a good sign. But I still had a really good time the first couple of days, especially when you don't get to see this every day:

This picture doesn't really capture it. Whistler is really beautiful. There were many points where I just needed to stop and sit down off the side of the trail just to check out the scene.

Here I am with some random snowboarder. Just kidding. It's David hidden under that gear. (Or Vince, who knows)


This is me, defeated. On the final day, I went down one trail by myself (my fellow beginner partner had already gone home). I admitted defeat as I tumbled down the mountain, but came out a winner after deciding to get lunch, a bloody Mary, and 5 beers. It was excellent.

So, it was an amazing trip. I really want to go again, maybe again next year - after my muscles recover and my finances replenish. Not the cheapest of vacations, but worth it =)

One month before Vancouver!

Must train. Strength and Cardio.

Week of Jan 11 - 17

• Monday, 1/12
• Exercise bike - 15 min (~2.5 miles)
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class

• Tuesday, 1/13
• Exercise bike - 30 min (~4 miles)

• Wednesday, 1/14
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class

• Saturday, 1/17
• Exercise bike - 30 min (~4.75 miles)
  

Week of Jan 18 -24

• Monday, 1/19
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class

• Wednesday, 1/21
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class

• Thursday, 1/22
• Exercise bike - 30 min (~4.5 miles)

Week of Jan 25 - 31

• Monday, 1/26
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class
• Saturday, 1/31
• 1-mile sprint - 9:08 minutes
  
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class

Week of Feb 1 - 7

• Tuesday, 2/3
  
• "Body Pump" 1-hour Endurance Weight Training class
• Wednesday, 2/4
  
• 1-mile sprint - 9:13 minutes
  
• Elliptical Trainer - 30 min (~2.5 miles)
  

Change of Plans

The Half Marathon Relay is canceled due to the lack of committed runners on my team =( But that's okay. I haven't been running for the past several days due to my obsession over the Twilight saga! Yes, I have jumped on that bandwagon.

I started reading the first book on 12/23, and now just seven days later, I am about to start the fourth and final book of the series! Am I embarrassed over the giddiness of my teenybopper obsession? Of course!! But there's something about it... It's an easy read, a page-turner, and it reminds me of cheesy high school romance, which is weird because I'm usually the first to gag when watching cheesy teeny-bopper romance movies with sappy dialog and mushy sweet-nothings (Ugh, High School Musical....). Maybe reading this stuff is different from watching it? I have yet to see the Twilight movie, so I guess we'll see. But anyway, a little cheesy never hurt anyone. It's actually very sweet. But dang it, I hate being obsessive like this! I am actually trying to finish the series before work starts again in January so that my obsessive reading doesn't conflict with work, and uh... the rest of my life?! *sigh* This is so unhealthy.

Alright, back to reading...

• Running: Ran 2.94 miles - 35:49 minutes (Ave pace: 12:11 min/mile)
• Thoughts: I ran 3 "Wilsons" (the block around my old middle school and elementary school). Physically, it was an easy run. Emotionally, it was draining. I don't think I like running anything three times in a row. I need some variety. Otherwise, I just feel like a hamster on a wheel (which is why I avoid treadmills if I can). On another random note, I am reading Twilight! I'm transitioning from children's literature about magic and wizardry to adolescent teen vampire romance.
  
  Merry Christmas Eve!
  

• Running: Ran 3.02 miles - 35:39 minutes (Ave pace: 11:48 min/mile)
• Thoughts: It is so freakin' cold outside!!!!! I can't feel my ears, arms, legs.. I should have checked the weather before I decided to run in a tanktop and shorts. 32 degrees.... I thought my body could warm itself up, and I was too determined to continue to turn back. I hope I don't get sick..... Stupid.
  

3M Half Marathon Relay

Holy Moly, I've just committed to running the 3M Half Marathon Relay in January (~6 mile leg per partner). I must be crazy, but this will be good endurance training for my snowboarding trip in February. (Vancouver, baby!)

Anyway, I ran for the first time in a few weeks today. 3.02 miles in 36:38 minutes, for an average pace of 12:08 min/mile. I think if I train consistently, and realistically take into account the amount of free time I'll have (I'm expecting January to be very busy month for me), I should be able to maintain this pace for the 3M Half Marathon Relay. The last 6+ mile run I ran (the Capitol 10K), my average pace was 12:29 min/mile, and that was with A LOT of training. We'll see what happens. I'm staying optimistic!

Monday, 11/17

• Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.5 miles)
  

Thursday, 11/20

• Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.5 miles)

Monday 11/24

• Ran 3.02 miles: 38.27 min (Ave pace 12:44 min/mile)

Tuesday 11/25

• Ran 2.29 miles: 30:59 min (Ave pace 13:32 min/mile)

Wednesday 11/26

• Ran 2.29 miles: 28:25 min (Ave pace 12:25 min/mile)
  

I completed my all of my "running goals" for 2008!
Update: I completed all of "Harry Potter goals" for 2008 (completion date: some time in early Dec)!

New Year's Resolutions Update:

• Run a 10K race - Done: Capitol 10K (March 30, 2008)
• Run a 5K race every 3 months
• Winter 5K - Done: Mardi Gras 5K (Feb 2, 2008)
• Spring 5K - Done: Schlotzky's 5K Bun Run (April 13, 2008)
  
• Summer 5K - Done: IBM Uptown Classic at the Domain 5K (Oct 19, 2008)
  ... okay, sure this isn't technically "summer"... but let's let this one one slide =)
  
• Fall 5K - Done: Run for the Water 5K (Nov 9, 2008)
• Read all the Harry Potter Books
• Book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
  - Done
• Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
  - Done
  
• Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
  - Done
  
• Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
  - Done
  
• Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
  - Done
  
• Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
  - Done
  
• Book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
  - Done
  
• Go snowboarding again
  - Deferred to Feb 2009. Whistler, Vancouver. Tickets booked!
  

Getting back on track... (again)

After the wedding, I've been indulging myself in all sorts of luxuries, such as carbs after 5. It's been great. But now, it's back to maintaining my healthier lifestyle.

Tuesday, 10/7

• Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.6 miles)

Wednesday, 10/8

• Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.6 miles)

Thursday, 10/9

• Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.6 miles)

Sunday, 10/19

• IBM Uptown Classic 5.3K
  3.29 miles - 41:33 minutes
  Average pace: 12:38 min/mile

Sunday, 11/9

• Run For The Water 5K
  3.1 miles - 35:09 minutes
  Average pace: 11:20 min/mile

Wednesday, 11/12

• Elliptical Trainer: 30 min (2.28 miles)
  

Countdown to Wedding Fitness!

Goal for Michelle's wedding on 9/27 (in 3 weeks): Work-out 5 days per week. Continue to maintain a low-fat, low-carb diet, and refrain from carbs after 5 PM (allowing some moderate exceptions on weekends).
The bottom line: Just look thin and healthy at Michelle's wedding!

Here we go!

---

WEEK 1 OF 3

• Sunday, 9/7
  Running: 3.02 miles - 40:16 minutes (Average pace: 13:20 min/mile)
  Diet: Lunch: Raw veggies. Dinner: First, a Vietnamese minced prawn & egg soup (bun rieu) with fried tofu. Then, a potluck dinner complete with meatballs & French bread, Parmesan-crusted halibut fillets, tomato & mozzarella salad, green bean & crab salad, rotisserie chicken, turtle cheesecake, fruit custard tart, and red wine. (I am stuffed, which is NOT good! At least, most of the food was healthy, but it's just too bad that I ate so much of it! Not a perfect start...)
• Monday, 9/8
  (Rest)
  Diet: Breakfast: small cup of coffee. Lunch: half a turkey & provolone sandwich on wheat. Early afternoon snack: half a turkey & provolone sandwich. Late afternoon snack: a banana. Dinner: rotisserie chicken breast, raw baby carrots. Midnight fuel (as I work into the night..): a medium cup of coffee.
• Tuesday, 9/9
  Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.5 miles)
  Diet: Breakfast: small cup of coffee. Lunch: half a turkey & swiss sandwich on wheatberry. Early afternoon snack: a banana. Late afternoon snack: half a turkey & swiss sandwich on wheat. Dinner: Mushrooms in clear chicken broth soup, brussel sprouts, a pickle, and an apple.
• Wednesday, 9/10
  Elliptical Trainer: 45 min (~3.4 miles)
  Weight Training - Upper Body Machines: triceps, biceps
  Diet: Breakfast: small cup of coffee, an orange. Lunch: half a turkey & swiss sandwich on wheat. Afternoon snack: half a turkey & swiss sandwich on wheat, a banana. Dinner: turkey and chicken cold cuts, a banana, an orange, and a pickle.
• Thursday, 9/11
  (Rest)
  Diet: Breakfast: small cup of coffee, Special K Protein Bar. Lunch: beef jerky (while shopping). Afternoon snack: an orange, Atkins "Day Break" Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp Bar, G2 energy drink. Dinner: Chinese buffet =( (but it was for Megan's 18th bday!!! I'll eat well on the weekend.)
• Friday, 9/12
  Running: 2.29 miles, 28:39 minutes (Average pace: 12:31 min/mile)
  Diet: Breakfast: Special K Protein Water. Lunch: half a turkey & provolone sandwich. Early Afternoon snack: an orange, half a turkey & provolone sandwich. Late Afternon Snack: a banana, an orange. Dinner: turkey cold cuts, raw baby carrots, hummus, a pickle, Atkins "Day Break" Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp bar (for dessert). Late Night Snack: Special K Protein Bar
• Saturday, 9/13
  Elliptical Trainer: 1 hour, 5 minutes (~5.1 miles)
  Diet: Lunch: spaghetti & meatballs. Afternoon Snack: small bowl of spaghetti & meatballs. Dinner: egg rolls, fried rice, a slice of ice cream cake, a slice of chocolate mousse cake (Megan's Birthday Part 2). Late Night Snack: turkey cold cuts.
  

WEEK 2 OF 3

• Sunday, 9/14 (Note: Started Crest Whitestrips this evening)
  (Rest)
  Diet: Lunch: egg rolls, fried rice, a slice of chocolate mousse cake. Afternoon Snack: Atkins "Day Break" Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp bar. Late Afternoon Snack: an orange. Dinner: turkey cold cuts, raw baby carrots, hummus, a pickle, an apple.
• Monday, 9/15
  Elliptical Trainer: 45 minutes (~3.5 miles)
  Weight Training - Free Weights: triceps, biceps, shoulders
  Diet: Breakfast: medium cup of coffee, plain bagel with cream cheese. Lunch: half a turkey & provolone sandwich on wheat. Late Afternoon Snack: other half of the sandwich, Atkins "Day Break" Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp bar. Dinner: (I cheated!!! ... but just a little) one slice of white meat chicken quesadilla, one very small beef taquito, 4 white corn tortilla chips, guacamole, salsa, and a bunch of raw baby carrots
• Tuesday, 9/16
  Weight Training - Free Weights: triceps, biceps, shoulders (30 min)
  Diet: Breakfast: medium cup of coffee, plain bagel with cream cheese. Lunch: half a cajun chicken wrap. Afternoon snack: other half of cajun chicken wrap, Atkins "Day Break" Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp bar. Dinner: a glass of wine, 4 pan-seared pork dumplings, sauteed beef & water spinach, Vietnamese squash (bau) soup
• Wednesday, 9/17
  Elliptical Trainer: 30 minutes (2.5 miles)
  Diet: Breakfast: medium cup of coffee, plain bagel with cream cheese. Lunch: half a grilled chicken & swiss sandwich on wheat, a banana. Afternoon Snack: other half of grilled chicken & swiss sandwich on wheat. Dinner: chicken & salsa salad, turkey cold cuts, Vietnamese pork cold cuts (gio). Late Night Snack: fresh fruit (banana, apple, orange)
• Thursday, 9/18
  Exercise Bike: 30 minutes (4.1 miles)
  Diet: Late breakfast: small cup of coffee. Lunch: half a turkey & swiss sandwich on wheatberry. Afternoon Snack: other half of sandwich, Special K protein bar. Dinner: half grilled pork sandwich on French baguette, braised pork, fried tofu, bittermelon soup
• Friday, 9/19
  (Rest)
  Diet: Breakfast: small cup of coffee. Lunch: minestrone soup, salad, 3 breadsticks. Afternoon snack: small cup of coffee. Late Afternoon "Snack" (aka Happy Hour): 3 beers. Dinner: Sauteed shrimp with Thai chili peppers, chicken coconut curry with green beans, ground pork & bean thread patty, Vietnamese spinach soup
• Saturday, 9/20
  Running: 3.02 miles - 38:57 minutes (Average pace: 12:54 min/mile)
  Diet: Breakfast/Lunch: small bowl of chicken pho. Dinner (at Shady Grove): Thai grilled chicken salad, cup of Mexican tortilla soup, chili cheese fries. Late Night Partying: jello shots & vodka cocktails =D
  

WEEK 3 OF 3

• Sunday, 9/21
  (Rest)
  Diet: Breakfast/Lunch: small bowl of lean beef brisket & eye round steak pho. Afternoon Snack: 2.5 Round Rock doughnuts =( Dinner: tacos (one double-decker, one crunchy)
• Monday, 9/22
  (Stood on my feet for 5 hours straight for a recruiting event today!)
  Weight Training - Free Weights: triceps, biceps, shoulders (30 min)
  Diet: Breakfast: medium cup of coffee, fat-free peach yogurt. Lunch: chicken marsala, green beans, side salad with small drizzle of ranch dressing. Dinner: (Cheesecake Factory) Weight Management Spicy Chicken Salad (chicken spring mix salad with low-fat vinaigrette), small appetizer plate of Mitchell's meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables, pumpernickel bread & butter (yes, I know, carbs... )
• Tuesday, 9/23
  Weight Training - Free Weights: triceps, biceps, shoulders (30 min)
  Diet: Breakfast: medium cup of coffee. Lunch: half turkey & swiss sandwich on wheatberry, a banana. Late Afternoon Snack / Early Dinner: other half of turkey sandwich
• Wednesday, 9/24
  Diet: Breakfast: bottle of water. Lunch: half turkey & swiss sandwich on wheatberry. Afternoon Snack: 2nd bottle of water, a banana.
  

Thursday, 8/28 - Monday, 9/1: Sick with a stomach bug!!! (Con - Nursing stomach bug during Cancun bachelorette party, tortured by embarrassing incidents (keep reading). Pro - Couldn't stuff my face with fatty Mexican food or sugary alcoholic beverages; probably lost a pound or two.)

As a result of this horrid stomach bug (complete with utter embarrassment - 1) inebriated bride-to-be announces to entire Mexican restaurant that I have "diarrheas" (yes, with an "s"), and 2) co-bridesmaid walks in on me during one of my gastric episodes, thanks to the hotel failing to provide a lock on the bathroom door).... unfortunately, I was only able to fit in one work-out this week. The positive side of this week however is that I stayed true to my diet and ate only good nutritious food and snacks, including salads, fruits, and no carbs after 5 PM!

• Saturday, 9/6
  Weight training: Body Pump class (1 hour)