Cross-Training is Refreshing!

I think I've said this like 897 times now, but the cross-training I've been doing the past few weeks has been SO REFRESHING! I spent over a year doing nothing but running for exercise. Which was fine and all, but I really was feeling more like it was a chore.

So after the race on Memorial Day, I had no other races lined up--not a single one! And I decided to take this summer to take a break from my usual running routines and do something else (while maintaining my running fitness level).

You know I've always referred to my treadmill as a "dreadmill" because running in place is AWFUL--the most boring exercise imaginable. Since I became a runner back in March 2010, I could count on one hand the number of times I ran on a treadmill. I would much rather run in 10 degree snowy weather or 100 degree humidity than log miles on the dreadmill.

However, now that I decided to try cross-training, I discovered the pre-set programs for the dreadmill. Most of them are more walking than running, but they include some serious inclines. Have you ever walked briskly at a 10% incline? That shit is HARD.

I printed out some intermediate, advanced, and ELITE programs to do on the dreadmill, and I promise that a 15-minute elite workout (walking!) will feel even harder than 60 minutes of straight running at 7.0 mph. I did a 50-minute pre-set workout a couple of days ago, and I don't think my husband has ever heard me say the word "fuck" so many times in less than an hour.

I also started making an attempt at doing strength training via Jillian Michaels' Ripped in 30 and 30 Day Shred DVD's. The first time I did Ripped in 30, I was SO SORE for about 4-5 days afterward. I still have to modify a couple of things on it--namely the push-ups and one of the ab exercises.

One thing I've noticed since doing all this is that my measurements are getting smaller again--finally. My diet is far from perfect, but I lost an inch in my waist after just a week of the cross training. I was a little worried about not being able to run after the summer is over (in the fall, I plan on training again), but a lot of the workouts include some running (usually at an incline, so it's tough) and I might go for a run outside once in a while just to make sure I still can ;)

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So, for the first week of my Summer Challenge, I actually gained 3.5 pounds. It was a terrible week. I chose to count calories, because I had a bachelorette party, a wedding shower, and get-together with friends. I ate (and drank) a lot of things I normally don't. 

I'm actually really surprised I didn't gain more, but maybe it was because I exercised a lot this week. Although, my body tends to retain water when I do a lot more exercise than usual, so maybe that contributed to the gain as well--but I'd bet it was more about chips and liquor and ice cream than pounding it out on the dreadmill ;)

My new goal for this week is to eat a different breakfast every day. Sounds strange, I know--but I always get into ruts where I eat the same thing day after day, for weeks and sometimes MONTHS at a time. FYI, my "weeks" are going from Wednesday to Tuesday, because I weigh in on Wednesdays.

Sprouted grain toast with peanut butter, and coffee

Thursday breakfast: blueberry pancakes with butter and syrup

Today I am supposed to go out to dinner with Sarah and her fiancé. I'm thinking Middle Eastern food... which is healthy, but SO GOOD that I tend to have a problem with portion control. 

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