Back On Track Month Recap

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Catching up on weekend posts?

 

 

Good morning!  I went on a glorious 5.0 mile run this morning.  It is very overcast and cool in Central Florida, which was a nice change from the hot, hot sun.

 

I woke up at 6 AM to get some work done before I left.  While working, I had a big bowl of cereal + almond milk:

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I rarely just eat cereal for breakfast (mostly because I don’t find it to be very filling and it’s boring for the blog), but I do really like this kind, which we get in bulk from Costco.

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My run was nice, but uneventful.  🙂

 

  • Duration: 48:41
  • Distance: 5.0 miles
  • Mile 1: 9:36
  • Mile 2: 9:34
  • Mile 3: 9:50
  • Mile 4: 9:41
  • Mile 5: 10:01

 

After my run, I came home and ate a light post-run snack:

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I’m trying not to spoil my lunch because it’s already 9:30 AM!  I had wheatgrass and a banana (which was just brown on the outside because it was in the fridge).

 

Yes, wheatgrass tastes as disgusting as it looks. I mix it with almond milk as opposed to water, which helps.  Still gross, but there are loads of benefits!

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Back on Track Month Challenge

 

On October 26, I declared a Back on Track Month Challenge for myself.

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I stated that I had the following goals for Back on Track Month:

 

  • Hit all Marathon Training and Strength Training goals
  • Aim for 8 hours of sleep a night and be awake by 6:30 AM
  • No alcohol except for special occasions
  • Major desserts are for special occasions only
  • Aim to eat out 1 night per week maximum

 

I think declaring a Back on Track Month was very helpful.  Although I wasn’t perfect (never thought I would be), having a larger purpose for the month was great whenever I was tempted to eat out, stay up late, or skip my runs. 

 

Here’s my month in summary:

 

  • Marathon training mileage:  Week 1:27 miles; Week 2; 29 miles; Week 3 (injured): 15.4 miles; Week 4: 28 miles.  VERDICT:  Almost there, but not quite.
  • Strength training goals:  I started the Whittle My Middle challenge, and I’ve been doing Yoga Sculpt on a regular basis.  VERDICT:  Goal met.
  • 8 hours of sleep a night:  I achieved this 5 nights a week.  VERDICT: Goal met.
  • No alcohol except special occasions:  This worked for the first two weeks, and then I decided I really, really like beer.  VERDICT:  Fail.
  • No major desserts except special occasions:  In general, I met this goal. In the last two weeks, the Husband and I started to buy little pints of ice cream, which we normally don’t do.  I ate it in moderation, though.  VERDICT:  Almost there, but not quite.
  • Eating out 1 night a week:  I definitely ended up eating out more than once a week, thus wasting too much money on food.  VERDICT: Fail.

 

The purpose of Back on Track Month was more to refocus my energy on a clean, healthy, and active lifestyle in the weeks leading up to the holidays and the marathon than being “perfect”.  In terms of how I feel emotionally and physically, I would say it was a pretty good month!

{ 39 comments }

 

  • Evan Thomas November 23, 2009, 9:55 am

    Back On Track month was a great idea and success it looks like. Sure, you might not have done everything all the way through, btu that’s because you learned more about yourself and found the changes you could make and the things which didn’t need to be changed. I should definitely pick up on back on track month. why wait until New Years to make changes?

  • megan November 23, 2009, 9:56 am

    ha i love when you said you did good for the first 2 weeks until you decided you really like beer. 🙂 Sometimes a goal just isn’t worth the sacrifice 😉 I can’t stand beer, but I did just make beer bread that was really good!

  • Erin November 23, 2009, 9:57 am

    This is such a great idea! I’ve been needing some motivation to get myself back on track and I think writing down tangible goals is really helpful. Don’t mind if I steal your idea for December 😉

    Congrats on your success!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is November 23, 2009, 9:57 am

    I love brown bananas. This is such a hard time of year to get ‘back on track.’ I think every little bit helps, so you did a great job!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite November 23, 2009, 9:59 am

    This is a tough time to get back on track! I think you did a great job!

  • katherine November 23, 2009, 10:02 am

    Like you said, even though you weren’t perfect, who is? And you made great progress to your goals – that’s what counts!

  • Marissa November 23, 2009, 10:08 am

    Haha love what you said about beer 🙂

  • Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life November 23, 2009, 10:12 am

    Looks like it was a success! Great job!

  • Lauren November 23, 2009, 10:15 am

    I think you’re doing great on your goals – you didn’t “fail,” it is just work still in progress! And P.S…Yesterday while running my second half marathon, I totally started chanting in my head “pain is only temporary, quitting is forever” to get me through the last couple miles! It worked!

  • Erin November 23, 2009, 10:16 am

    Verdict: Success! Gold star for you Caitlin!

    I think I’m definitely calling December on Back on Track Month. Or at least a Stay on Track Month to help me focus when there are fun events, parties, and special events up the ying yang.

    I love the “and then I decided I like beer” comment. So true.

  • Kelly November 23, 2009, 10:17 am

    Looks like a great job with Back on Track month.
    So not only did you realize wine cures writer’s block, but you also really really like beer. Haha, oh well!

  • Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) November 23, 2009, 10:21 am

    I love Nature’s Path pumpkin flax granola. I get their monthly email newsletter and apparently it’s their best-selling cereal 🙂 Sometimes I mix it 50-50 with a less calorie dense cereal (or lots of fruit!) to fill me up.

  • Dayna November 23, 2009, 10:22 am

    Hey Caitlin. I have a question about your wheat grass shots….how do you prepare it? Do you have the actual grass and just grind it down like they do in the health food stores or do you have a powdered mix? It makes me gag too but I want to start working it into my diet because of the amazing health benefits.
    Have an amazing day!
    Dayna

    • caitlin November 23, 2009, 10:51 am

      see the link in the post – its a powdered mix.

  • ellie November 23, 2009, 10:22 am

    Congrats 😀

    I have had wheatgrass a few times- I tried it mixed with apple juice once and could barely taste it. The other ways I tried, I couldn’t even choke it down. Apple juice rocked 🙂

    • Susan November 23, 2009, 10:25 am

      Apple juice!! Ellie! You are a genius 😀

      • ellie November 23, 2009, 10:50 am

        seriously, you can’t taste it! I tried it at a health fair and thought I LOVED the wheatgrass…bought some and turned out I was just digging the apple juice 😛

  • Susan November 23, 2009, 10:24 am

    I tried mixing my SuperFood with just a little bit of almond milk and it was diiisssguusting!!!! Omg. I rather do a shot of tequila than that crap. I think part of it was a texture issue, it got all thick and chalky, which definitely didn’t help the already bad taste. So yeah, still looking on ways to get my grass in 😉 (the benefits really are too good to ignore!)

  • Katy @ These Beautiful Feet November 23, 2009, 10:31 am

    I took wheat grass shots when I worked on Jamba Juice and it was ROUGH! Especially since I got sick twice after taking them, that’s another story(do NOT take a WG shot on an empty stomach, even though the second time I had eaten..oh well). I think the powdered kind is probably easier on the stomach. I take amazing grass and haven’t had an issue! It was great to see how writing your goals helped you out, and also to see that you may not have hit them all. We’re human, it happens..and I LOVE BEER TOO! You win some, you lose some. 😉

  • Erin November 23, 2009, 10:49 am

    At least you have goals — even if you’re not 100% perfect (and no one is), it’s at least a step in the right direction. 😀

  • Erica November 23, 2009, 10:50 am

    I ran this morning too- the best way to start off the work week!! I think you did great- especially on the sleep. I have SO much trouble getting enough sleep 🙁

  • Julie @savvyeats November 23, 2009, 11:04 am

    I don’t like beer, but I have recently decided that I really, really like wine…

  • skinnyrunner November 23, 2009, 11:18 am

    Love that your completely honest about your month and that even though it wasnt perfect (thats not even attainable and how much fun would that be?) that you still felt more healthy! way to go!

  • FatFitnessFood November 23, 2009, 11:22 am

    Good for you, you did a great job. Super impressed by your mileage. I too have been doing great with my sleep recently and it seems to be making all the difference!

  • Ellen November 23, 2009, 11:26 am

    No alcohol except special occasions…now that is something I could totally benefit from!! I think that’s the #1 thing that keeps me from being as fit as I’d like to be. I don’t drink A LOT (well, not compared to let’s say, Lindsay Lohan), but it’s definitely enough to keep me from reaching my goals. If I’m hungover, I can pretty much guarantee that I will eat enough calories for two days worth and skip a workout. NOT.COOL.
    http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat November 23, 2009, 11:59 am

    I think the fact that you even thought about all of those things instead of just continuing in the rut makes it a success!

  • Tracy November 23, 2009, 12:14 pm

    I’m very impressed! I couldn’t give up alcohol either – wine is just too good!

  • Lauren November 23, 2009, 12:50 pm

    You still did really well. Sometimes it is so hard to meet and pass every challenge you give yourself, but at least you feel better overall. I think you did great! It gave you something to strive and work harder for.

  • alli November 23, 2009, 12:52 pm

    great job! i agree with what everyone else said; you may not have been perfect with all of them, but if we were perfect at everything the first time life would be boring. now you can focus on the areas that are more difficult. 🙂
    i’m jealous of your run! i went to the podiatrist this morning because i have been having foot pain along the top of my L foot since wednesday. He thinks it may become a stress fracture {which wont appear on an xray for a few weeks}. anyways, i have to wear a boot and i CANT RUN!!!!! kill me….. 😉
    i think i need to take up biking until he gives me the okay. any other suggestions for some good cardio?

    • Caitlin November 23, 2009, 1:09 pm

      can you try water jogging? i made a youtube video about it once – go to youtube and search seebriderun + water jogging

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans November 23, 2009, 12:58 pm

    Why is beer so delicious?

    • Caitlin November 23, 2009, 1:08 pm

      have you not had beer before? 🙂

  • Sammi November 23, 2009, 2:16 pm

    I’m glad to hear that you don’t find cereal very filling. It’s surprising to me when I see bloggers eating cereal because honestly, it makes me hungry right away.

    wow. I started that comment this morning and I’m just now finishing it! oops!

    In my opinion, you did wonderfully on your back on track month! I would never even try to put down “only going out to eat once a week” because I can tell you right now, I’d fail fail fail. My boyfriend is always suggesting us going out and when he mentions words like “ihop,” “ruby tuesday’s,” “olive garden,” actually, if he mentions any restaurant at all, I’m all over it!

  • Jenna November 23, 2009, 2:31 pm

    glad you met most of your goals 🙂
    jenna

  • Allison November 23, 2009, 2:50 pm

    Back on Track Month was a great success! Way to focus on accomplishing those goals.

    What are your goals for staying focused during the next seven weeks or so leading up to the marathon?

    • Caitlin November 23, 2009, 2:52 pm

      oh i should post about this!

  • Amanda @ Cakes and Ale November 23, 2009, 6:34 pm

    I love cereal too but I wish it was more filling. Most of the time, I just eat it as a pre-bed snack when I need to keep my mouth busy!
    No breakfast seems to keep me full these days unless it has oats in it!

  • Kath November 23, 2009, 7:18 pm

    Hooray for 10.26!

  • Bonnie November 25, 2009, 12:24 am

    Random comment of the day:

    I just started yoga and I love it! And that yogasculpt looks really fun!

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