coming clean :: running in a wind tunnel

yaelfran

...is what life has been feeling like these past two weeks. Thankfully, one of my projects at work has been put on a temporary hold, so I have some time now to catch up on my 'Coming Clean' posts. :: happy dance :: I'll post links as I crank 'em out.

Coming Clean :: Day 110 :: Friday

Coming Clean :: Day 111 :: Saturday

Coming Clean :: Day 112 :: Sunday

Coming Clean :: Week 16 :: official weigh-in

Coming Clean :: Day 113 :: Monday

Coming Clean :: Day 114 :: Tuesday

flavor of the day :: The Ting Tings

The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name

Mull over a cuppa!

coming clean :: day one hundred fourteen

Workouts: lunch @ gym (0.5 mile jog + stretch + 1.13 miles elliptical) and evening @ pool (4,300 SCY)

I didn't realize this was a 4000+ yards workout until I got home and recalculated everything. Oops!


Coming Clean:

face: Tea Tree and Charcoal Natural Complexion by Country Heart Gifts

body: Vegan Wino by Long Winter Farm

You can add this bar to the ever-growing list of Long Winter Farm's beautifully sudsy soaps! Her descriptions are hilarious, too!

"I used Shiraz to activate the lye in this one (I'm not a drinker, so it didn't phase me!), then scented it with berry wine fragrance oil and colored it with mica. I dusted the top with mica too, so it's all shimmery. Great gift for tasters and vineyard hoppers, not so great for your pastor or auntie in AA."


Naughty Points: 2 scoops of Ciao Bella blackberry Cabernet sorbet

Q: What better way to end the evening after bathing in red wine?
A: More red wine!

coming clean :: day one hundred thirteen

Workout: lunch @ gym (0.5 miles jog + l-o-n-g-s-t-r-e-t-c-h + 110 crunches)

Let the tapering officially begin! I'm not changing my swimming schedule, though. I hope Hal Higdon is okay with that!


Coming Clean:

face: Carrot Facial by Body Language Soaps

body: Sea Glass by Lily Pond Soaps

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 57 and Day 44, respectively.


Naughty Points: 6 Baby Cakes sugar-free orange vanilla marshmallows

I'm a-d-d-i-c-t-e-d to these things! That was the last of 'em... for now :: wink ::

coming clean :: week sixteen

My target weight loss is 20 ~ 25 lbs. (approx. 9 ~ 11 kgs.) by May 2009. But à la 'The Biggest Loser', instead of going by overall weight lost, I'll be posting it as percentage of body weight lost. The results are... :: drum roll please ::

target % weight loss : 13.16% ~ 16.45%
weeks one ~ twelve: 5.32%
week thirteen % weight loss: 1.05%
week fourteen % weight loss: 0.35%
week fifteen % weight loss: 1.42%
week sixteen % weight loss: -0.72%
total % weight loss: 7.42%

Well, I can't say I'm surprised. I went on a bit of a 'naughty points' binge on the day before weigh-in! :: guilty ::

At my Week 12 weigh-in, I decided to move Week 7 of my training program down to the week before the race. And that's where we are now with 'vanilla cupcake' stars across the board! I also gave myself a 'red velvet' star for the 8 mile run I wasn't able to do last week.

Here we are, at the last week of training! Can you believe it?!! :: happy dance ::

P.S. My scale actually looks like that, only it's not digital and it didn't cost me 80 clams. Some times, you can find nifty things at Target!

coming clean :: day one hundred twelve

Workouts: afternoon @ tennis and evening @ pool (3,550 SCM)

Rain stopped just in time for courts to dry. A bit windy, but otherwise a beautiful spring day for Aussie doubles!


Coming Clean:

face: Luxurious Clean Cotton-Scented Charcoal Facial by A Breath of French Air

hair: Vegan Original Citrus Blast Salty Dawg Creme Shampoo & Intense Hair Conditioner by Gudonya Soap and Spa

body: Vegan Revitalizing Rosemary and Lavender by Anderson Soap Company

These soaps and hair products were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 7, Day 16 and Day 41, respectively.


Naughty Points: 1 scoop of The Dairy Godmother grapefruit sorbet

To further feed my need of Vitamin C! :: wink ::

flavor of the day :: Pinback

Pinback - Good to Sea

Mull over a cuppa!

coming clean :: day one hundred eleven

Workout: morning @ outdoor jog (7.2 miles jog + 0.7 mile walk)

Last long run before the race next week! It was a cold and dreary day, but the light mist was kinda nice. I knew a waterproofed iPod would come in handy :: wink :: I thought I'd be a glob of lactic acid from last night's "race against the clock" swim session, but felt fine for the most part. Was hoping for 8 miles, but right Achilles started tightening up around mile 6 so cut the run short and stretched instead.


Coming Clean:

face: Luxurious Clean Cotton-Scented Charcoal Facial by aBreathofFrenchAir

body: Goat's Milk Gardener's Soap with Cranberry and Strawberry Seeds by KBShimmer

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 7 and Day 13, respectively.


Naughty Points: 0.5 Baby Cakes BooHoo Baby (Lemon) Cupcake + an unmentionable amount of Baby Cakes sugar-free orange vanilla marshmallows

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been on this mysterious citrus kick lately. The half-gallon of OJ I bought yesterday is already half-gone! And when you're craving citrus, there's no way you can resist a cupcake description like this!

"Do you love lemon? How about a lemon cupcake with real lemon juice added for the extra pucker we all love, then smother it with addictive and wicked yummy lemon buttercream frosting? If you say yes, then grab a spoon and pucker up baby."

coming clean :: day one hundred ten

Workouts: lunch @ gym (2.6 miles jog + stretch) and evening @ pool (3,300 SCY)


Coming Clean:

face: Tea Tree Honey with Lemon Peel by Inseine Creations Bath & Candle Company

I've raved about Inseine Creations and their fantastic soaps several times in the past. Here's another glowing review to add to the list! This is the creamiest bar of complexion soap e-v-e-r! Yes, it still smells like tea tree oil, but the lemon peel granules provide a nice distraction. It suds a light, buttercup yellow, but does not stain your sink / bathtub.

body: Citrus and Coriander Whipped Parfait Foaming Scrub by Sweet and Tranquil


Naughty Points: 0.5 Baby Cakes BooHoo Baby (Lemon) Cupcake

I've been on this mysterious citrus kick lately. My body must be telling me that I need more Vitamin C, so I'll feed it more Vitamin C :: wink ::

coming clean :: day one hundred nine

Workout: lunch @ gym (2.5 miles jog + stretch)


Coming Clean:
face: Pink Kaolin Clay by Country Heart Gifts
body: Rhubarb Al Fresco by Rachel Rene Bath & Body

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 1 and Day 4, respectively.


Naughty Points: 6 BabyCakes Online Bakery sugar-free orange vanilla marshmallows

BabyCakes can tint them lavender, pink, green or yellow for Easter. Mine arrived lavender!

flavor of the day :: Dispatch

Dispatch - The General

Mull over a cuppa!

coming clean :: day one hundred eight

Workout: lunch @ gym (2 miles jog + stretch)

I've been pulling 15 hour work days this week, so this was all I could manage. :: pant ::


Coming Clean:

face: Vegan Complexion Zen by Bunny Butt Apothecary

body: Carrot & Spinach & Cocoa by Bubblor

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 14 and Day 64, respectively.


Naughty Points: 1 Best Buns Bread Company lemon mini bundt cake

coming clean :: day one hundred seven

Workouts: lunch @ gym (jog + stretch + 240 crunches) and evening @ pool (4,000 SCY)

As soon as I got home from work, I scarfed down a cupcake and crawled into bed for a power nap... half-hoping I would win against Coach Sujekebe. Obviously, I didn't. :: weak ::

For my main set, I did the ladder set from the Chlorine Addicted bi-weekly 1000. :: phew ::


Coming Clean:

face: Buttermilk Baby by Oliba

body: Erica by Jadewicks Home Goodness

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 22 and Day 77, respectively.


Naughty Points: 1 Best Buns Bread Company lemon cupcake

I was really excited to try Best Buns' cupcakes. I'm a huge fan of their carrot mini bundt cakes and breads, but their lemon cupcake -- at least the one I had -- was a bit of a disappointment. The edge of the cupcake top was so hard that the entire rim had all but separated itself from the rest of the cake. Which, ironically, made it very easy to break off and throw away. Because the cupcake had been over-baked, the paper was also a challenge to get off. There's nothing more frustrating than that :: wink :: The cake itself was okay. A tad on the clumpy side, but the taste wasn't bad enough to dismiss the cupcake altogether.

Nevertheless, I ♥ Best Buns and their friendly employees! But call ahead. Selection can be quite limited if you walk in minutes before closing!

coming clean :: day one hundred six

Workout: lunch @ gym (0.5 miles jog + stretch + 1.5 miles elliptical)

The plan was to get at least two miles of jogging in during lunch, but my right shin was a little tender. I'd rather play it safe than not be able to run again for another week!


Coming Clean:

face: Luxurious Clean Cotton-Scented Charcoal Facial by aBreathofFrenchAir

body: French Kiss by Savor

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 7 and Day 69, respectively.


Naughty Points: 2 packets of salt and vinegar Snack-A-Jacks

Anyone know where I can get these stateside? Quaker Oats has rice cakes, but they need to be salt and vinegar! :: starting to panic ::

coming clean :: week fifteen

My target weight loss is 20 ~ 25 lbs. (approx. 9 ~ 11 kgs.) by May 2009. But à la 'The Biggest Loser', instead of going by overall weight lost, I'll be posting it as percentage of body weight lost. The results are... :: drum roll please ::

target % weight loss : 13.16% ~ 16.45%
weeks one ~ twelve: 5.32%
week thirteen % weight loss: 1.05%
week fourteen % weight loss: 0.35%
week fifteen % weight loss: 1.42%
total % weight loss: 8.14%

This was an unexpected surprise! For one, I had been nursing shin splints all week. And two, I was on a 'naughty points' binge for most of the week! This doesn't mean I hadn't been exercising. But by laying off jogging and scarfing down one 'naughty point' after another, I thought that I wouldn't be posting a positive % weight loss. It might've had something to do with the luck 'o the Irish. Or, in my case, the not-Irish :: wink ::

With the exception of the 5+ miles I did yesterday, my owwie shin splints kept me from doing any running this week. :: sniff ::


P.S. My scale actually looks like that, only it's not digital and it didn't cost me 80 clams. Some times, you can find nifty things at Target!

flavor of the day :: Peter Schilling

Peter Schilling - The Different Story

Mull over a cuppa!

coming clean :: day one hundred five

Workouts: afternoon @ outdoor jog (5.73 miles) + evening @ pool (3,450 SCM)

Perfect weather for my first jog in a week! I felt great (probably because my body was in 'induced taper' mode) and my shins weren't bothering me, but I held back on pace and distance. I think I'm ready to start running again!

I had about an hour of down-time between my run and swim practice and *barely* made it through the workout. :: phew ::


Coming Clean:

face: Carrot Facial by Body Language Soaps

hair: Vegan Original Citrus Blast Salty Dawg Creme Shampoo & Intense Hair Conditioner by
Gudonya Soap and Spa

body: Vegan 'The Garden' by Kelle's Kitchen

From the moment I got my soaps in the mail, I knew we were off to a good start. There were cute little shamrocks drawn on the fragrant parcel, and my order came was a lovely, hand-written note. The soap itself -- in its beautiful packaging -- smells wonderful. It is definitely a blend of sweet and fruity!

What drew me to Kelle's Kitchen is the obvious love she has for her soap-making business. Each soap in her shop comes with a little story:

"The Story of The Garden: When brainstorming soap ideas I wanted to create something for my dad, and the first thing that came to mind was his awesome vegetable garden in our backyard. He grew a little bit of everything from corn and rhubarb to tomatoes and pumpkins. Enough to keep our family full of vegetables through the summer and fall! This bar is made in honor of that wonderful garden, which is still producing wonderful vegetables to this day :)"


Naughty Points: 1 The Dairy Godmother lemon marshmallow

It was the size of a bar of soap, but hey, it was *just* one! :: snicker ::

coming clean :: day one hundred four

Workout: afternoon @ swim meet (~2500 SCM)

Total distance is approximate, and includes warm-up, 3 events, warm-down.


Coming Clean:

face: Tea Tree and Charcoal Natural Complexion by Country Heart Gifts

body: Java Jolt by Inseine Creations

These soaps were first reviewed on Coming Clean - Day 51 and Day 9, respectively.


Naughty Points: 0.5 Busboys & Poets banana bread pudding with coconut ice cream

coming clean :: day one hundred three

Source

Workout:
intended: evening @ outdoor jog (3 miles)
actual: evening @ the 9:30 Club

There is nothing better in the world than scoring tix to a sold-out concert approx. 10 minutes before you change into your running clothes! :: happy dance ::


Naughty Points: ZERO!

flavor of the day :: Bishop Allen

Bishop Allen - Things Are What You Make

Mull over a cuppa!