Tag Archives: cross training

2012….The Mystery of What Will Be…..

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This is the first day of 2012 and we are looking at a fresh start with a  whole new year in front of us.  What will you bring to Ms. TooTall and the family, 2012?  This is the time in which many are making New Year’s Resolutions; however, I am not really a fan of a “resolution” per say .  I think that many treat resolutions like rules with the “they are made to be broken” type attitude.  So in absence of a New Year’s Resolution, each year I attempt to develop some sort of challenge for myself and as many people as I can suck into the insane plan.  As with all good plans/challenges, it needs to most importantly bring about a good story in the process!  I really believe that over half of the endeavors in which I have sucked my sister into  completed were for the sole sake of having a good story.

Thru the years, we have developed some REALLY good stories.  Still one of my favorites was the 2005 Rim to Rim hike thru the Grand Canyon with (Me), Sara (my sis), Lisa E., Lisa’s Cousin Cindy & Lisa’s mom:

That adventure was my foray back to fitness.  It was a long road cuz I had 10+ years of excess eating/drinking to redirect but I not only hauled my ass person from the North Rim, to Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River but then up the South Kaibab Trail for a finish on the South Rim.  Good times.  Good memories.  And it was a heck of a workout!  This adventure was a catalyst to my current state of fitness.  More importantly, it gave me the confidence to also try other things that prior to that point, I would have NEVER though possible.

LOTS OF RUNNING

Me & Abby S. during the Inaugural 2008 Fort 4 Fitness Half Marathon:LOTS OF FAST RACINGLOTS OF TRIATHLON

I’m unzipping the black wetsuit in the middle.

MUD & OBSTACLES

 CROSS TRAINING & SWEAT

LOTS OF NEW FRIENDS

So after so much fun and sweat it is hard to create a budget friendly challenge for the new year.  Last year I challenged myself to run 1000 miles.  I made it despite fighting injuries from March thru year-end.  This year I wanted something new and fresh and along came….So the big adventure for Ms. TooTall for 2012 will be participating in a chicks only, 6 person, ultra relay team for the Madison to Chicago Ragnar Relay Series. 33 miles over the course of 2 days/nights in early June.  This is gonna be insane fun and should provide us with a GREAT story!

I will also be running the 2012 Chicago Marathon and delving back into Triathlon after a long bike hiatus from Mr. Michael’s birth/toddler years.   The goal is a 1000 running miles and 1000 bike miles.  This will be TOUGH for me but I joined Team Tough Chik for 2012 so hopefully that will provide extra support that I need to make this happen!  If you are interested in being on Team Tough Chik for 2012, click HERE.  The deadline for joining the team has been extended until Jan 7.  See a few of my fellow Tough Chiks below.

What do you have planned for 2012?  Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?

Once Again…..Happy New Year!                                                                                Amanda – TooTallFritz

StairMaster….BABY!

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We all know that I am super tentative about my foot right now even though it currently doesn’t hurt but I  still needed a workout since I have eaten everything in sight for 2+ weeks so I decided on a little cross training last night.  My absolute favorite machine is the StairMaster.  I like the old school ones like Lisa E. and I busted ass on used in the Hanover gym for years while I was in college.  On February 1, 2005, I purchased one of those old school StairMaster 4000PT‘s from globalfitness.com to get rid of 10 plus years of excessive eating and drinking lose some weight.  At the time, going to the gym was OUT.  Aby was a little over 3 at the time, I was working/commuting, etc. and time was tight.  I also, didn’t have the $$ for gym quality equipment but couldn’t live without this model so I purchased a refurbished one.  It has worked out really well for me and I would not hesitate to go with a refurbished product again.  It even broke once, within the first year, and they came out and replaced the motherboard…..over a $1000 between the service call and the replacement “part” and I didn’t have to pay a dime.  Yes, I’m a fan.    In fact, if I ever took the plunge on a dreadmill, I would go back to globalfitness for a refurbished gym model.  I made the mistake of purchasing an elliptical machine at a “big box store” in 2006 and that thing is a piece of shit lacking a lot in the quality department.  Lesson learned.

Okay, let’s do it….Aby try to grab a photo, okay? 

Just the beginning…..

Fast Feet!

My view, yes, the dining room is my gym, and the Christmas Room. 

My bike and the elliptical will come back to the dining room gym as soon as Christmas is over.  We attempted to sell the house last year because we can’t afford it wanted to change school districts; therefore, everything we loved personal was banished to the basement or barn.  Thank goodness, my StairMaster wouldn’t fit thru any of the doors during Operation Banishment.

If you like to sweat, the StairMaster is the machine for you!  I normally don’t sweat unless I’m vacuuming running hard or it’s super hot out (and I’m running) but this machine brings the sweat immediately!

I always recommend the StairMaster to anyone who wants to lose weight.  It’s not fun but you will sweat out all the alcohol chocolate you ate/drank over the last month in just one session.  So if you want to lose weight, put down the HO-HO’s NOW  jump on the StairMaster and make it a happen, then go back and do it again tomorrow, and the next day and you will lose that ass weight.  If you need a kickstart, you can also try the AdvoCare Trim line to help boost your metabolism and give you more energy to hit the daily workouts.  But you still have to workout.  If you see an ad or hear somebody tell you that you will lose weight without working out they are lying you aren’t getting the full story.  You must sweat to lose.  Promise.  Been There, Done That.

Thirty minutes of sweat and I’m done.  I didn’t have any much time tonight but squeezed in a short one.  It was 4.xx miles.  Not exactly sure how far because Michael kept saying, “Mommy, what you doing?   Mommy, what you doing?  Mommy on StairMatter?  Mommy all done?  Mommy, what you doing?”  It broke my concentration even though I was really trying to remember the mileage so that I could post it on DailyMile.

So I got in a workout, I made something happen.  May not be much of a workout to most of you but I was moving.

“Run”way Fashion:  I was totally rocking the SkirtSports.com sale rack.  The Signature Tee was on sale a month or so ago for $12 and I snapped one up, then had RaceExpressions add the TooTallFritz logo front/back.  Love this shirt, it’s my second one, is super soft and just a perfect shirt for workouts and life.  I think it runs big, that being said, it’s a regular shirt size.  If you buy a M at Kohl’s, then get an M here.  I have to size up for Nike some big name running brands.  This shirt is now on sale with the 12 Days of Skirtmas Sale for $15.  Signature Tee

I also picked up a pair of the Under the Skirt Leggings thru the 12 Days of Skirtmas Sale!  Normally $55 they are currently on sale for $27.50.  I’ve been wanting these for a long time and I was not disappointed.  They are soft, smooth and perfect.  Flare at foot/ankle, pocket on each side.  LOVE.  Super stylish! Under Skirt Leggings

There has been a lot of talk lately about bloggers making $$ on product reviews.  Just an FYI….all of the products that I have reviewed to date are those which I have purchased with my own $$.  I have not received any free items, nor do I profit if you purchase any of the things I “love”.  I review the products because I do spend a lot of $$ on fitness/running gear/clothes/shoes and I personally enjoy hearing what other think about things before I spend my hard-earned $$.  I try to help you out with the same.  If I am ever fortunate enough to receive anything FREE with the obligatory review to follow, I will be sure to mention it at the time.  However, it’s not an issue at this point.  But by all means, if you want to send me something to review, I’m more than happy to do it!

How are you doing with the extra holiday treats?  Do you work in an office where all of the goodies which you deny yourself throughout the year show up on your desk or in the kitchen between Dec 10th & 24th?  I’m struggling!  Can’t seem to control the junk food intake which I am normally so good at ignoring!  UGH!

Happy Eating Holidays!                                                                                                Amanda – TooTallFritz