Category Archives: fitness

Pushing Our Luck: Week 1 Recap

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If you’re just hearing about March’s Pushing Our Luck Challenge for the first time, it’s not too late to join in the fun.  Basically, we’re following the One Hundred Pushups Program and tweeting about our achievements: #pushingit.  Then, each Thursday, I’ll host a linky party for you to link up and share your recap post or add your Twitter ID.

So, I performed the initial test and vlogged about it which placed me at Week 3/Column 3.  Even with the multiple sets, Day 1 and Day 2 was a piece of cake was a cinch.  (I suppose I shouldn’t use cake metaphors when describing my workouts.)  I had a bit more difficulty with Day 3, but I finished each set strong.  Onto Week 4!  WOOT! WOOT!  Awwwwww….push it.  P-P-Push it real good!

Since the pushup challenge is only 3 days a week, I also threw in some ab exercises (200 reps) and planks (2 x 30 seconds) on my rest days.  I’m not crunching every day, but at least I’m still loving my abs.

How did you do?  Are you moving on or are you repeating a week?

Link up and share your pushup progress.  Also, remember to tweet #pushingit to share your reps and progress.


Denise Mestanza-Taylor+

March Challenge: Pushing Our Luck

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My Twitter running tweeps (@ForrestGump49er  @runningrealtor1 @amanda_mowry @runningmom2boys @runmama2girls @SeeKateRun1 ) and I love a good challenge.  I think we have an addiction to challenges.  100 Ab exercises?  No problem.  I’ll see your 100 and raise you 100 more.  Yes, it’s an addiction and it may be time for an intervention, but not before we start another challenge!

For March, we are Pushing Our Luck by taking on the One Hundred Push Ups Program.  Of course, we’ll still be working the abs, but if you follow #pushingit, you will be able to follow our push-ups progress and join our Twitter support group.

To begin the Pushing Our Luck Challenge, you have to first perform the One Hundred Push Ups’ initial test to determine your level and starting point.  I vlogged my performance test, so you can get a good laugh an idea on how it works.

That’s right. I do girlie alternate push-ups and there ain’t no shame in that. Hate the game, not the player.

So, 30+ alternate push-ups are still push-ups as defined by Steve Spiers (the mastermind behind One Hundred Push Ups) which places me at Week 3, Day 1, Column 3 for the start of our March challenge.

Where will you start? 

Perform your test. Write up a post or make a vlog, whichever you prefer, and then swing back here to link up share your post.  Please be sure to add the Pushing Our Luck button to your post and link it back to Run DMT to help spread the word about our March challenge.

Then, follow the One Hundred Push Ups program each week by doing your predetermined level of push-ups three days a week.

As for me, I will be starting Day 1 tomorrow (Friday, March 2) to be on schedule for our weekly linky party every Thursday in March, which will include a full report of my progress and a linky.  I would love for you to share your progress each week too.

Remember to tweet #pushingit to share your reps and progress.

Hope this makes sense!

If you have any questions, leave a reply in the comments section below.

Good luck!



Love My Abs Challenge: The Last Day

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Our Love My Abs Challenge is winding now, but the crunches will continue!

I am so in love in the results of the last few weeks.  After 4 weeks, I feel stronger, but I feel and look leaner.  I can’t believe how much I shaved off my waist in such a short time!  The shorts I’m wearing in this photo are size extra small and that just blows my mind.

Even though the challenge is over, I will continue to do 200 reps a day and slowly increase because I think it’s so important to continue strengthening my core.

How did you end the challenge? Are you stronger and leaner too?  Link up and tell us all about your lovely abs!



Little Lion Man caught a nasty cold and it was difficult to do crunches with a crying green snot toddler clinging to me all day.  So I totally flaked and missed Days 23 & 24, but I was back on track on Day 25 and finished the challenge strong by moving up to 200 reps and two 30 seconds planks a day.

Day 25

80 crunches

60 bicycles

60 cross-over crunches

2 x :30 planks

 
Day 26

80 crunches

60 bicycles

60 cross-over crunches

2 x :30 planks

 
Day 27

80 crunches

60 bicycles

60 cross-over crunches

2 x :30 planks

 
Day 28

80 crunches

60 bicycles

60 cross-over crunches

2 x :30 planks

 
Day 29

80 crunches

60 bicycles

60 cross-over crunches

2 x :30 planks

For March, I am leading a new challenge: “Pushing Our Luck”.  Basically, we will be following the 100 hundred pushups plan for the next four weeks.  The challenge starts tomorrow March 1, so stay tuned for my initial test (a vlog post) and all the specifics to the challenge tomorrow.

For a sneak peek and a good laugh, watch my initial 100 pushups test from three years ago.

Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Recap

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Prior to the race, I had caught my son’s cold, but thankfully, I knew I wouldn’t be running the race hard.  Having run a Disney race before, I knew there were so many distractions along the course that I would want to stop for a few of the photo opps.

Originally, I had planned to stay with my non-runner girlfriends the night before the race, but the more I thought about it, the more I worried about not being able to sleep.  Typically, a girlfriend getaway leads to heavy drinking and not enough rest, which is not conducive to any race, whether you run it easy or not.  Then, last minute, my mom offered to stay with me in Orlando and you know, my mom (any mom) would make sure I ate right and slept well.

And I’m so glad we arranged that last minute decision, because my 3:30 a.m. wakeup call came fast!

Since I still hadn’t decided which princess to dress as, I packed both princess costumes.  Allana (my ten year old) suggested I be Tiana.  “You’re just like Tiana.  You can sing.  You have dreams and you set goals”.  (I just love that she said that.  It was a proud mama moment that warmed my heart.)

My old running partner, Tiffany, gave me some great advice.  “Wear the Belle costume because if you get tired of the tutu, at least you’ll still have a running skirt on and you’ll still look like Belle.”

Once I picked up my race packet at the expo, I finalized my princess plans.  “Belle” was printed on the bib as my favorite princess.  So, I had to be Belle.

On the morning of the race, traffic into Epcot parking was very congested and I worried that I wouldn’t make the 5:00 a.m. corral call, but then things started to move and I arrived at the park at 4:40 a.m.  However, I still had to walk to the start line and Disney is not kidding when they say it takes 20 minutes.  I forgot about that walk!

It was a chilly morning, but not freezing and I warmed myself with a stolen hotel towel and the aluminum wrap from Rock ‘Roll Half.  I looked even more like Belle with a red cape around my shoulders.

On the way to the start, I spotted all types of princesses and Disney costumes: Dalmatian princesses, villains, Tinkerbelles, Minnie Mouse, Lumiere and Mrs. Potts, and of course every variety of Disney Princesses.  I wished that my girlfriends were running the race with me. Each of us was supposed to be a different Disney Princess.

Strangely, as I walked and wished for my friends to be there, I met Melissa dressed as Cinderella in corral B.  She looked just like Lori.  It freaked me out a bit, but my stares probably freaked her out too.  I explained to her that she reminded me of one of my friends and she said, “Well she’s here with you in spirit”, which is something Lori would say.  I was so grateful to have a Lori lookalike and Lori’s spirit running the race with me.

Fairy Godmother spoke the magic words and fireworks launched in the dark morning sky.  The race was underway.   Even though the start time is staggered for the corrals, it was still pretty congested and hard to run faster than 10:30 and I was o.k. with that.  I liked the easy start pace.

Since it was dark, I just focused on getting through the first few miles and didn’t stop for many Kodak moments.  I also knew we’d be running the same course back to the finish.  My plan was to run the roads faster and slow down in the parks since the Disney characters and cast members would be cheering for the runners as we ran past.  I had my mind set to stop for Belle and Tiana if I saw them.

Once in the Magic Kingdom, I intended to pop into the Tomorrowland restroom for a potty break, another little Disney race secret.  All the restrooms in the park are available so you can avoid the port-o-potties. Plus, in a full service bathroom, I could readjust my tiara if need be.

I literally whizzed through Tomorrowland and moved onto Fantasyland to stop for a photo in front of the castle.

Once passed the castle, we ran through Liberty Square, where Tiana and Prince Naveen stood waiting. Of course, I stopped.   As I stood in line waiting for a photo with Princess Tiana, I met another Tiana, who I would continue to meetup with throughout the race.

After a quick photo with Tiana, I was on my way through Frontierland and then through the cast member exit where we were on the road again back towards Epcot.  Just outside the Grand Floridian, I bumped into Belle.  “Hi me”, she said when I posed for a photo with her.

Shortly afterwards, I met my Prince Charming outside the wedding pavilion.  His glass slipper was so fitting for a running princess.

On the return trip along World Drive, I decided to pose for some pictures that I missed on the way to the Magic Kingdom, like Captain Jack and some of the other Disney fellas.  But my camera died.  Fortunately, my Disney Princess running partner, Tiana, saved the day and snapped some photos for me.

Next to the characters and cast members, the spectators were superb and their signs were so entertaining.   “Worst parade ever!” “Villains run faster.”  “I am so proud of you complete stranger!”  With louds cheers and cow bells, they had such enthusiasm as the runners flew by.

The “hill” near mile 11 was definitely the roughest, just as @clairgp had warned me.  I had to walk most of the overpass, but as bad as that overpass was, my plantar faciitis heels didn’t bother me.  I guess all the stopping to visit with characters had its benefits.

After a quick photo in front of Spaceship Earth, I ran the last mile hard.  I wanted to finish under 3 hours and even with all the stops along the way, I met my goal 3 hour goal.

Like I told my friends future Disney Princesses, I would totally run it again and take just as long.  You just can’t take this race too seriously or you’ll miss all the Disney magic.

But next time, I’ll be Tiana.

Chip time 2:51

Clock time 2:59:23

Ave Pace 13:04

An Encounter with the Penguin

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An encounter with the Penguin may sound like a bad Batman episode, but it is no exaggeration to how I briefly met John Bingham, the well-known slow-runner and author nicknamed The Penguin for his “waddling pace”.

As stealth-like as I could with a screaming toddler strapped in a stroller in tow, I discreetly tried to snap photos of The Penguin during his lecture on flexibility vs. stretching at the St. Pete Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon expo.

Unfortunately, the rude repeated clicking broke his speaking stride and then he snapped. “Why are you taking photos?”

“Um…because you’re The Penguin and I’ve quoted you on my blog,” I sheepishly replied.

“You blog?  What’s your blog?  Will you blog this?”

“Of course!”

“Well, then let’s get a photo together!”

With that invitation, I tossed my camera to my friend, Chrissy, to capture this beautiful blogoturnity.

Thank you, Mr. Penguin, sir.

“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” – John “The Penguin” Bingham

PhotoStory Fridaythe hollie rogue Look whooooo’s snapping Unknown Mami

Love My Abs Challenge, Week 4

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If you’re just hearing about February’s Love My Abs Challenge for the first time, it’s not too late to join in the fun.  Basically, we started with a 100 dally ab exercises and tweeted about our achievements: #lovemyabs.  (This week we move up to 160 exercises.)  Then, each Wednesday, I’ll host a linky party for you to link up and share your recap post or add your Twitter handle.

That’s it.  Now sit-up and take action!  Show your abs some love this February!




To be honest, I am really not happy with this photo, but has nothing to do with results, because clearly my abs are showing.  My disappointment has more to do with bad lighting and PMS.  I must have taken (no lie) 50 photos of my abs but I just couldn’t get the lighting right.

And then, I wore the wrong shorts.  See, my cute little running shorts have a scrunchy elastic waist. So every time I sat at the computer to inspect my photos, I would get these little elastic marks in my abdomen.  Now, you may think, “No big deal. You can’t even see it.” Remember you are dealing with a woman PMSing and there is no rational behind loathing a photo.

Had the lighting or my knowledge on how to use my fancy DSLR camera been better, I think the definition and progress would have been clearer.  Oh well.  One more week to make the magic happen!

I may hate the photo but I love my abs!

 

Day 16

80 crunches

40 bicycle

40 cross-over

25 push-ups

2 – 30 second planks

40 pilate hip rotations

2 x second supermans

 

Day 17

80 crunches

40 bicycle

40 cross-over

 

Day 18

80 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over

1×30 second plank

 

Day 19

80 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over

2 x 30 second planks

2 x 30 supermans

(50 pushups & 40 tricpes dips for fun)

 

Day 20

80 crunches

40 bicycle

40 cross-over

 

Day 21

40 crunches

60 bicycle

60 cross-over

2 x 30 planks

25 pushups

 

Day 22 – Moved up to 180 reps.

60 crunches

60 bicycle

60 cross-over

2 x 30 planks

50 pushups

 

How about you? Are you giving your abs some daily love?

Random Thoughts about a Swelled Head, a Shrinking Waist and a Princess Problem

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Marathon TrainingIn the past few weeks, Run DMT has been spotlighted on several websites and it’s giving me a big head.

Marathon Training Schedule compiled a list of top running blogs and Run DMT is #64.  Then, RN Central.com  shared 50 Inspiring Blogs for Your Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss and Run DMT is #5 on the list.  How exciting is that?!

I’m flattered to be considered an “inspiration” to others for post-partum weight-loss and I hope yours is going better than mine because I’m sill struggling to lose the last of my baby weight 19 months later. What’s that old pregnancy rule of thumb for weight-loss? Nine months up, nineteen months down?  That sounds about right.

Five unflattering pounds are still sticking around from my pre-pregnancy weight but I don’t put a whole heck of a lot of value on the scale since most of my old clothes are fitting me.

So the numbers on the scale are not dropping but I am definitely toning and shrinking inches, thanks to our Love My Abs Challenge.  If you haven’t been following along, you should go over there RIGHT NOW and check it out!  Each week, I’ve been sharing photos and a brief recap of my progress.

Tomorrow, we’re moving onto to Week 4 and 200 reps, but it’s not too late to join in the fun.  Even if you fell off the wagon, you can simply start over at 100 reps at Week 1. It’s not about how many reps or how long, but more about making a commitment to a better you.

Speaking of wagons, I will be catching a carriage ride over to Orlando this weekend for the Disney’s Princess Half Marathon.  I don’t feel prepared at all for this race, but it has nothing to do with training.  I still haven’t figure out what to wear!

Should I be Belle or Tiana? 

Both princesses are equally smart, brave, fearless, beautiful and good role models for my girls (next to their mom, of course).  But…
If I dress as Belle, I’ll wear a yellow running skirt, matching yellow top, a tiara and carry a red rose.

If I dress as a Tiana, I’ll wear a green top, green shorts and a magnolia rhinestone hair clip in my hair.  I wanted to find a green tutu to wear over my shorts, but I haven’t had any luck yet. 

As any stylish, runner (a.k.a stunner ) will tell you, tiaras and tutus are a must for any Disney Princess race.  I think what I wear will be a game time decision, but I would love to hear your vote: Belle or Tiana?

The girls have the Gasparilla Jr. Race on Saturday. Next year, Liam will be old enough to run the Gasparilla Jr with Emmalynn, but this is Allana’s last year to run it as she’s getting too old for it now.  The thought of it makes me all melancholy, but she’s moving on to bigger distances with her mom.

And who knows maybe she’ll run a Princess race with me someday.  Then she can be Belle and I’ll be Tiana!  There. Problem solved.  Hopefully, by then I would have found a green tutu or made one or bought one of these shnazzy sparkly skirts.  A runner mom can dream, can’t she?  Like a wise mouse once told me, “If you dream it, you can do it.”

And now for my running stats!

I suffered from a stomach bug for two days after the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon, but I think the forced rest helped me run under 30 minutes for the first time in nearly a year.

2/15

3.1 miles

Time 29:35

Ave Pace 9:33

Max Pace 7:31

 

2/16

4 miles

Time 41:09

Ave Pace 10:17

Max Pace 7:59

 

2/18

6 miles

Time 1:13:27

Ave Pace 11:51

Max Pace 8:56

 

2/21

3.1 miles

Time 30:21

Ave Pace 9:48

Max Pace 7:06

 *Proudly submitted to Stacy Uncorked, because when I blog about my training, it’s usually pretty random.*

Stacy

Love My Abs Challenge, Week 3

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If you’re just hearing about February’s Love My Abs Challenge for the first time, it’s not too late to join in the fun.  Basically, we started with a 100 dally ab exercises and tweeted about our achievements.  (This week we move up to 160 exercises.)  Then, each Wednesday, I’ll host a linky party for you to link up and share your recap post or add your Twitter handle.

That’s it.  Now sit-up and take action!  Show your abs some love this February!



Although I raised my reps to 140 this week, I didn’t try any new exercises.  With a half marathon only a few days away and to avoid injuring myself, I wanted to keep things simple and routine.  This week may have been less adventurous as far as ab exercises were concerned, but the results were pretty staggering nonetheless.

I think I see some abs forming there.

Day 9

60 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

Day 10

60 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

Day 11

60 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

Day 12 (Rock ‘N Roll Half Marathon)

60 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

On Day 13, I was recovering from the half marathon and suffering from a 24 hour stomach bug, but still managed to squeeze out some crunches.  It was not a pretty sight.

60 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

On Day 14, the Plank Police hunted me down on Twitter and shamed me into doing some long forgotten planks.  It was only fair to show my abs some extra love on Valentine’s Day.

60 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

2 x 30 second planks

Day 15 – I moved up to 160 reps.

80 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

I am so impressed with #lovemyabs progress!  Are you loving your abs too?

Love My Abs Challenge – Week 2

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If you’re just hearing about February’s Love My Abs Challenge for the first time, it’s not too late to join in the fun.  Basically, we started with a 100 dally ab exercises and tweeted about our achievements.  (This week we move up to 120 exercises.)  Then, each Wednesday, I’ll host a linky party for you to link up and share your recap post or add your Twitter handle.

That’s it.  Now sit-up and take action!  Show your abs some love this February!


A week into the challenge and I’m already seeing a difference in my waist.  Although I didn’t measure myself with a tape measure at the start of the challenge, I would estimate that I have lost about an inch around my waist.  The real measure is the reduction of spillage over the top of my pants.  My muffin top is deflating.

No real ab muscles popping up yet, but I know there in there somewhere.  I’ll just keep at it.

Here’s a photo of my abs after one week and a rundown of the ab exercise I did this week.  I also learned about the #plankaday challenge via @runningmom2boys and @Amanda_Mowry,  so I’m plugging along with planks in that challenge too.

Day 2

(Unplanned resistance training thanks to Little Lion Man pulling my hair with every crunch.)

40 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

1 minute planks

50 pushups

Day 3

40 crunches

40 bicycles

40 cross-over crunches

20 reps of pilates

50 pushups

Day 4

2 x :30 planks

60 crunches

60 cross-over crunches

50 pushups

Day 5

60 crunches

60 cross-over crunches

2 x 30 second planks

Day 6

60 crunches

60 cross-over crunches

2 x 30 second planks

25 push-ups

Day 7

60 crunches

60 cross-over crunches

50 push-ups

Day 8

40 crunches

40 bicycles

60 cros-over crunches

Like I said, I’m already seeing results.  How about you?

Random Thoughts about Getting Physical and Rocking ‘n Rolling

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In the last two days, I’ve been inside three doctors’ offices.  First, I had a 6 month follow-up for Little Lion Man’s hip dysplasia.  According to the nurse practitioner, “Everything looks great”.  His hips are developing normally (excellently) and now our visits will occur once a year.   Honestly, as fast as little man has been running and climbing these days, I knew everything with his hips would be fine and I didn’t have any worries.

Then, today I had my annual physical.  My cholesterol is high again (240), but I think that might be related to my soft foods diet as I have been eating a lot of eggs.  Also, my vitamin D was low, which is so weird to me living in sunny Florida and all.

Apparently, a vitamin D deficiency is a typical diagnosis as people age, especially for someone with darker skin or someone who consumes a vegetarian diet.  I don’t eat enough fish or beef liver, but I’m sure it’s a combination of everything.  I have been prescribed a vitamin D supplement once a week but I prefer ten minutes in the sun as a prescription.

I also had a follow-up with my oral surgeon today for my wisdom teeth extraction.  When I mentioned to him that I am still have some pain, he said that’s to be expected for up to SIX WEEKS!   Oi vey.  At least I’m healing well and he seemed pleased about that, but I still need to stay on soft foods for a little while longer.   Ugh.  I really miss almonds and tortilla chips with salsa.

Speaking of my soft foods diet, I lost another 3 pounds for a total of 7.5 pounds.  I’m happy about the weight loss, because my clothes are fitting a bit better, but I’m not too thrilled about the way I’m losing weight.  Oh well.  At least I’m only 10 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight.

On a related note about my weight, my general practitioner said, “You don’t look like you weigh 135 pounds.” Um…thanks?  I’m all muscle, baby. Yeah, I hide my weight well since most of it is tucked away in my juiceful butt.

This Sunday is the St. Pete Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon and I feel pretty good about it.  Even though I haven’t really trained as much as I had hoped, I think I’ll do all right, especially since I threw in some resistance training last week.  Yes, every once in a while, I run with a stroller to remind myself how much I hate running with a stroller.

Last Sunday, I ran 10 miles and it felt good.

10 miles

Time 1:47:55

Ave Pace 10:48

Max Pace 8:07

 

Here are the rest of my runs:

2/2/12

4 miles

Time 41:04

Ave Pace 10:16

Max Pace 7:36

 

2/3/12 (stroller run)

3.1 miles

Time 34:07

Ave Pace 10:58

Max Pace 8:26

 

2/07/12

3.1 miles

Time 31:37

Ave Pace 10:12

Max Pace 8:05

 
And in case you haven’t heard…for the month of February, I’ve committed to showing my abs some love with my #lovemyabs challenge.  Every Wednesday, I’m hosting a linky party.  So, stop by tomorrow to link up and see everyone’s progress.  I’ve already noticed a difference, but I’ll fill y’all in tomorrow.

 *Proudly submitted to Stacy Uncorked, because when I blog about my training, it’s usually pretty random.*

Stacy