This week I added a new food to my diet. It was a Buffalo burger. Everyday we get an email on the special food of the day in the cafeteria. Wednesday it was a buffalo burger. It was a half pound and only 248 calories. What the heck. I gave it a shot. It was good. I was surprised.

My diet has hit a plateau. As my training is increasing, so is my appetite. I have been trying to focus on eating the right things when I do eat. I spent 2 hours at the grocery today reading labels and buying the right stuff. Not only is it more time consuming , it cost more money too. After getting home, I spent another hour organizing , measuring, and bagging my food for the coming week.

Waddling toward healthy eating.............

Run: 6.0 miles/ treadmill

CATCHING UP

It was a good but extremely busy week.

Masters' swim began on Tuesday AM. I was very nervous going in. Even though I kept working on my swimming since the last session had ended in December, I was apprehensive walking into the gym. There was a larger group of sbout 20 swimmers. I immediately headed for lane 1. Coach Steve reviewed all the drill and how class would run. Our workouts would be written on boards at the far end of the pool. They all had a cooldown, 3-4 drills, a main set, and a cooldown. It took me about half the class the settle down and get comfortable.

Wednesday I went down to the gym at work and did the elliptical for 25 min. then finished the day with 3 miles on the treadmill. It felt good.

Thursday was Master's swim. It was a 1800m workout for me. I did one 300 without stopping. I shared a lane with a new person, Mark who was just about the same level as me.

Friday, I made it to the 530am spin workout. Nick challenged us as usual. During my lunch, I went down to our gym and did a 30 min strength and core class.

I feel really satisfied with my week.

Waddling into the weekend................

BOTTOM LINE CHALLENGE

Today at work , I weigh in for the Bottom Line Challenge. It is a weight loss competition. I am on a six person team. Our name is "Butt-wiser" 6-pack. It lasts for 10 weeks. You get points for lbs. lost, excercise, and nutrition tracking. 1st place team wins $500 per person. We have alot of potential.

I am looking forward nervously to tomorrow. Master's swim begins again. It is 3 times per week for 12 weeks. I gained alot once a week for 6 weeks so I know that I will improve over the upcoming weeks. I am nervous again about training with others. I know there will be quite a few training for Steelhead also.

Waddling to bed..........

Bike trainer : 40 min.

F-F-F-F-FREEZING

Last night I woke up at 2AM. There was no reason really. I could not go back to sleep. I grabbed my laptop. Somehow I ventured to the world of YOU TUBE videos. I looked up Ironman. I put on my headphones so as not to wake up Mr Waddler. I was sucked in for the next 2 hours. Why is it that I cannot get enough of watching this stuff?

I awoke to subzero temperatures at 7AM. The decision to head to the gym came easy. As I went out to warm up my car, the sun was shining and the air was so crisp and clean.

I did a 6 mile run on the treadmill. I felt good. I increaded my speed and did some incline increases to make it interesting.

Waddling with a dream............

Sunday : run : 6miles /treadmill / 1:15

OVER A HUMP

Today was one of those days that changes your training. My motivation was beginning to drop. The dark winter days and subzero temperatures make it tough. But spin class gave me a push over the hump today.

I barely could get out of bed. I wanted to go to spin class at 530am. I made but I was 5 minutes late. I headed to the back of the room. Nick was the instructor today. He does tri's and relates alot to the training. Just his comments during class helped to re-motivate me. The clincher was when during the last 12 minutes of working out, he played the DVD of Ironman Wisconsin that he had gotten after doing it last year. I brought tears to my eyes. Then it came to me the reason that I was there at 530am. I wanted to feel like one of those people in that DVD.

My base training has been going good. I have been getting the time and laying some solid groundwork. Now I need to increase the intensity of my workouts. Then come April 1 ramp up the hours.

Next week, begins the next level. Master's swim is back for 12 weeks. I can go 3 times per week. that by far is my weakest sport and I need to get it much more solid. My biking is good but holding for better weather. On my running, I have been increasing the long run on the weekend.

I think that I am on track.

Waddling with a new waddle.............

Thursday : swim= 45 min drills

Friday : spin class = 45 min.

BASSACKWARDS

Challenges came at me from the moment my feet hit the floor. I went to grab my morning Diet Mountain Dew and make some toast when I realized it was warm inside the refrigerator. At 5am there are not many options. Luckily it is winter so I grabbed a laundry basket took everything out of the frig and set it in the garage.

At 545, I was out the door and on the treadmill by 6am. I had a good run going when a guy jumped on the treadmill next to me. Decided to play the drums on the treadmill control board and scare the crap out of me because he was banging so hard. I did a good 4 mile run completed.

The locker room became the next stop. After my shower, I was getting ready for work and this lady decided to start a conversation. She was nice but bare naked. She proceeded to tell me of her sciatic pain and show me where it hurt across her butt. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

The trip to work was uneventful. Once there I reached in my pants pocket. To my surprise, I realized that they were on backwards. How embarrassing. In my hurry to leave the gym, I put on my pants the wrong way.

This all happened before 8am. The rest of the day was much of the same.

Waddling to an easier day.............

Run : 4 miles / teadmill/ 53:00

Did you ever have one of those workouts where you were constantly bargaining with yourself to keep going? It was me today on the treadmill.

My deals:

• I'll run but inside. I have an upset stomach. I can quit when I want and not do 7 miles.


• When I get to the gym, I will run just 30 minutes because my legs are tired.


• As I am running, I can walk 1 minute every 10 but I have to keep my speed up.


• After 30 min. , I can take a break. I still feel good but can switch to a treadmill on the other side of the gym.


• When I'm close to 6 miles, that's good enough. But mentally I know it's not good enough.


• If I don't take anymore walk breaks, I'll get off faster.

I did make it 7 miles. I was a success more over the mental side of me than the physical. It felt great.

My favorite team , New England , is still winning. What a great game to watch last night. I hope they get to face Indy.

Waddling to watch some football...............

Run : 7.0 miles/ treadmill / 1:32