#HBBC Finale

My participation in The Holiday Booty Buster Challenge really fizzled out by the end. Bummer!

The challenge is now over.

Since I didn't post my recap for Week 6, here is my recap for the final two weeks.

Week 6

12/24: 10 points

• Ran 9 miles - Joined TCRE for a group run. Much bigger group than I'd originally thought, which worked out well. I was nervous because the last I'd checked there were going to be 3 of us, and we all had very different paces. I wasn't sure how we would manage, but more people showed up and it went really well!
• Stretched for 20 min - I'm usually really terrible about taking the time to properly stretch after a long, hard run. Not today! I took the time to really just relax and enjoy some good stretching time.

12/25: 0.6 points

• I convinced my sister and niece to go for a walk with me on Christmas Day. It was fun to walk around my parent's neighborhood and such a beautiful evening! I was kind of disappointed in the lack of visible Christmas lights in the area, though.

12/26: 0 points

• REST!!!

12/27: 3 points

• Ran 3 miles - This run went really fast - despite a slower pace. Sometimes it's fun to just run!

12/28: 0 points

• I couldn't seem to drag myself out of bed this morning. Plus, I was on a deadline to finish my portfolio, so I didn't really have time in the evening, either.

12/29: 4.8 points

• Ran 4.8 miles - I really wanted to get in 5 miles, but the sidewalks and trails were slippery in patches. After falling twice, I ended up turning around and walking quite a bit of the way back.

12/30: 0 points

• REST!!!

Week 6 Total: 18.4
Challenge Total: 113.35

Week 2

12/31: 3.1 points

• Resolution Run 5K - Got a PR and a fancy new running jacket. Love it!

1/1: 0 points

• Was going to run 10 miles out to my parent's house, but there was a snowstorm the night before, and I didn't feel safe about running on the paths.

1/2: 11 points

• Ran 10 miles - Treadmill. I really wanted to get in 10 miles even though my knee was hurting slightly since the 5K on Saturday. I just took it at a nice, slow pace. Attempted to watch movies to fight the treadmill boredom.
• Stretched for 20 min - Another great stretching session after a nice long run.

1/3: 2 points

• Exercise video for 40 minutes - Since my knee was still bothering me, and I'd developed some sort of rash, I decided against running and swimming. Instead I tried out a new exercise video at home that is designed to help runners strengthen their cores. I'm going to try it out for a few more sessions, and then I'll do a full review and giveaway. Very excited about this!

1/4: 0 points

• Knee still bothersome; rash even itchier.

1/5: 0 points

• Went to the doctor for my rash and complained about my knee while I was there. Her orders? Buy new shoes and strengthen my core.

1/6: 0 points

• We had dinner plans with some friends, so I intended on getting up early and doing that workout video. I just couldn't seem to crawl out of bed! I ended up catching an even later bus than usual. Booo!

Week 7 Total: 16.1
Challenge Total: 129.45

Would I do this challenge again? Yes, I think so. Even though I didn't get as many points as I would have liked, it was still a good challenge. I think it may have been better if I'd signed up on time. I may have taken it a little more seriously.

What's my next challenge? Well, I've been pseudo-training for a half marathon on Jan 28th. I still have time to register for the early registration rate, so now I'm hoping that my knee gets to feeling up to it. After that, training for Grandma's starts mid-February.

#HBBC, Week 5 Recap

I know. I'm really late getting this out. I guess I got distracted with Christmas, and, you know, being lazy.

This definitely was not my best week for #HBBC.

Week 4
12/17: 6.5 points

• Ran 6.5 miles - Joined TCRE (my running group) for a run. This was a TOUGH one. Thanks goodness for running partners - otherwise I'm not sure I'd have been able to finish this one.

12/18: 3 points

• Cycled 1 hour - Cross training at the gym.

12/19: 0 points

• REST!!!  

12/20: 3 points

• Ran 3 miles - Nothing really remarkable about this run. Familiar route. Walked a bit in the middle.

12/21: 5 points

• Ran 5 miles - Not the greatest run pace-wise, but I did manage to pass another runner. It felt like a pretty great accomplishment. Plus, it was my anniversary, so I was happy to have squeezed in a run before work, so I could celebrate with my husband after work. :-)

12/22: 3 points

• Ran 3 miles - Today's challenge was to not look at my watch. Success!

12/23: 0 points

• REST!!!

Not once this week did I manage to get in the 7 fruits/vegs. :(

Week 2 Total: 20.5
Challenge Total: 94.95

Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!

#HBBC, Week 4 Recap

Week 4 of the #HBBC was off to a great start, but really petered out at the end.

Week 4
12/10: 10 points

• Ran 9 miles - Joined TCRE (my running group) for a run. I'd intended on doing a LSD run of about 8 miles. We went a bit faster and further than I'd wanted, but I still felt pretty good about the run. Plus I met a new friend who lives nearby and offered me a ride home - saving me from a mile walk in barely double digit weather wearing super sweaty clothes. I gladly accepted the ride.
• Walked 1 mile - Walked to pick up the HourCar to pick up my race packet for the Get Lucky Triple 7K (half marathon) I'll be doing in March. I know it's super early, but I just couldn't wait for the super awesome sweatshirt.

12/11: 5 points

• Cycled 15 miles - Cross training at the gym.

12/12: 1 points

• REST!!!
• 7 servings of fruits/vegs. Yay!

12/13: 5 points

• Ran 4 miles - Took advantage of the beautiful weather that has melted all the snow, and ran along the river. At night. In the dark. It's wasn't bad at all. Felt pretty good actually.
• 20 min of weights - I was really short on time, but better than nothing, right?

12/14: 4 points

• Ran 4 miles - Treadmill. My goal was to run 4 miles at a 9:30ish pace. I set the treadmill to 6.3, random workout with average level of 2. I really had to push myself a few times to fight the urge to walk. I gave in 3 times and ended with an average pace of 9:43.

12/15: 0 points

• I had a final to study for a final bright and early Fri morning, so I chose to study instead of workout. It was my last final, so at least for a few weeks school won't get in my way of working out. :)

12/9: 0 points

• REST!!! - After a few days of little sleep preparing for my final, I really welcomed an evening with nothing to do. Plus, I didn't want to wear myself out for Saturday's run.

Week 2 Total: 25 - most points in one week for me! yay!
Challenge Total: 80.95

#HBBC, Week 3 Recap & Myplate.gov

Well, Week 3 of the #HBBC was a bit of a dud, but there were a couple of successes as well.

Week 3
12/3: 0 points

• Visited The Russian Museum of Art with my Russian history class. It was fascinating, but somehow it kind of drained me. I was pretty worthless after returning. Well, I do think I got *some* homework done.

12/4: 7.5 points

• Ran 7.5 miles - On the treadmill. I was not looking forward to such a long run inside, but I didn't want to run out in the cold, either. I brought A Bug's Life to watch and that helped a LOT, but next time I need to find something a little more engaging (i.e. something I haven't watched a million times already). After my run, I felt like I was positively gliding on my walk home. Bonus!

12/5: 0 points

• This was my designated rest day. Aaaaahhhhh!!!!!

12/6: 0 points

• I got distracted after work doing something on the Internet, I suppose. Boy, this week was really off to a rough start!

12/7: 2.6 points

• Ran 2.6 miles - Outside. It was a beautiful afternoon!! I couldn't resist taking Sallie out for a run. I'd intended to go 4 miles, but her little tootsies kept getting too cold. She had to stop several times to lick out the snow/ice. Before you think I'm a bad doggie-mom, we turned around after the first time she stopped. Poor girl.

12/8: 4 points

• Ran 3 miles - Back on the treadmill. Mostly I just don't feel comfortable running outside when it's dark, and I can't clearly see the ice patches on the ground. I was attempting 4 miles to make up for the miles I missed the day before, but just around 3miles, the power went out at the gym. Well, the whole neighborhood, actually. I'd intended on visiting the weight room, but once the power went out, I headed home instead.
• I ate 7 servings of fruits/veggies! I. am. shocked!

12/9: 1 point

• This was another designated rest day. Aaaaahhhhh!!!!!
• I ate 7 servings of fruits/veggies TWO days in a ROW!

Week 2 Total: 15.1
Challenge Total: 49.45

Yes, I'm as shocked as you are that I managed to get in 7 servings of fruits/veggies TWO days this week. I find that it's much easier to accomplish if you have a plan. Making a meal plan ahead of time is really something that I struggle with. It's so time consuming! Towards the middle of the week, I decided to stop fighting it and let SparkPeople do the work for me. They have system generated plans that are super easy, super filling, and loaded with fruits/veggies. It makes it tons easier to just bring up the website and know what I'm going to make. If I don't like something they suggest, it's super easy to swap out the entire meal suggestion or just one of the components.

I've also discovered MyPlate. This site is produced by the USDA and is a great resource. I haven't spent too much time on the site yet, but it appears you can create meal plans and track your foods. I think you need to sign up for an account of some sort, of course. They also have something they call MyFood-a-pedia where you can look up over 8,000 foods for nutritional info. You can even compare two different foods. There aren't name brands, but it's more general in nature.

I think I'll play around with the site more in the future and do a full write-up/review of the website at that time.

Have you visited the MyPlate website? What do you think? Do you plan out your meals ahead of time or just wing it?

#HBBC, Week 2 Recap

Did you notice the button over in my right sidebar? I kind of threw it up there without any explanation, but I joined up with the Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge 2011. I'm new to it this year and signed-up a little late, so I don't qualify for any of the fun final prizes. Still, I thought it would be a good way to challenge myself through the holiday season.

Here's how I can earn points each week:

1 Point per mile (run/walk)
1 Point per 3 miles biked
1 Point per 20 minutes of weight lifting, Pilates, yoga, stretching or abs
1 Point per 15 minutes of low impact cardio (i.e. low impact aerobics, easy biking, skiing, skating, water aerobics, snow shoeing)
1 Point per 10 minutes of high impact cardio (i.e.spinning, kickboxing, lap swimming)
1 Per day where you reach a minimum of 7 servings of fruits and veggies (here are details on what is a serving)

I'd like to do a brief recap here each week. Since I missed week 1, here's a recap from both weeks.

Week 1

11/19: 0 points

• Studied all day for MTLE on Monday morning

11/20: 0 points

• Same as Saturday

11/21: 5 points

• Weights - 20 min
• Elliptical/Stairmaster - 30min

11/22: 0 points

• No real good reason. :(

11/23: 1.1 points

• Walked 1.1 mile

11/24: 4 points

• Walked 1 mile - had to pick up / drop off the car
• Turkey Day 5K - ran with a friend from high school. So. Much. Fun! (and crazy crowded)

11/25: 2 points

• Ran 2 miles

Week 1 Total: 12.1
Challenge Total: 12.1

Week 2
11/26: 0 points

• Skipped my run. Went to a wine tasting with my stepmom, sister, and brother's girlfriend. Well worth it. :)

11/27: 7.25 points

• Ran 7.25 miles - Very pleasant run spent listening to the radio. Quite enjoyable, in fact.

11/28: 0 points

• I can't even remember what happened this day.

11/29: 3.9 points

• Ran 3.9 miles of hills on the treadmill. Was very tough!

11/30: 2.1 points

• Ran 2.1 miles outside. The weather has been so pleasant!

12/1: 2 points

• Cycled for 30 min. Slowly. While attempting to read. Not very successfully.

12/3: 4 points

• Ran 4 miles on the treadmill. Attempted speedwork.

Week 2 Total: 19.25
Challenge Total: 34.35

Where I'm really falling short is the fruits/veggies part of the challenge. I really struggle to eat nutritiously. Hopefully this will improve once school is finished, but right now it would be a real challenge for me to even eat 3 servings a day, let alone 7. That seems like an incredible amount to me.

What tips do you have for incorporating fruits/vegs into your diet? How are you battling the heaviest eating season of the year?