Life is Going Swimmingly

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Another awesome pool workout!  🙂  Does anyone else get really excited about changing and showering at the gym?

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I’m lame.

 

First up was the Intro to Iron Pumping Challenge workout!  That’s 3 days this week – goal met!

 

Day 7: Shoulders, Chest and Triceps

  • Warm Up: 5 minutes of cardio
  • Overhead press: 3 x 12 with 10 lb dumbbells
  • Dips: 2 x 10 with body weight
  • Stability Ball Push Ups: 10 push ups
  • Planks:2 X 30 seconds
  • Lateral Raise: 3 x 12 with 5 lb dumbbells
  • Cable Tricep Extension: 3 x 12 with 30 lbs

 

And then I met up with Ryan and Ashley for a swim.  I did an INTENSE interval workout:

 

  • Swim: 1,300 meters total.
  • Warm up: 300 meters, 50% effort
  • Interval Set 1: 4 X 100 meters, 75% effort, 30 seconds rest in between intervals
  • Interval Set 2: 4 X 50 kick, 75% effort, 20 seconds rest in between intervals
  • Interval Set 3: 4 X 25 drill, 50% effort, 10 seconds rest in between intervals
  • Warm down: 300, 50% effort

 

It took me about 35 minutes.  I swam the entire time, except during the 300 meter warm-up.  It took me a while to get “into it” and I wanted to talk to the girls! 🙂

 

I’ll be unveiling my triathlon training plan on Monday!

 

Pre-workout snack was PB toast:

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And post-workout lunch was a veggie sandwich:

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This is definitely my favorite vegetarian sandwich (well, I guess all my sandwiches are vegetarian sandwiches, but you know what I mean).  I grilled squash and eggplant with soy sauce on the George Foreman, and combined sprouts, mustard, and melted Cheddar cheese.  Nom, nom, nom.

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With Stacy’s Pita Chips and a kidney bean/salsa combo:

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The Power of Positive Thought

 

So many cool and eerie comments on the Voodoo Magic post.  :)  A lot of you mentioned the book The Secret, which I haven’t read but I know the basic premise.  Basically, the book is about the power of positive thought – how you can “attract” positive things (love, money, health) by thinking of them and banning all negative thoughts.

 

I know it sounds hokey, but I 100% believe in the power of positive thought!  I’ve written before about how I used to be a VERY negative person.  You know what?  When you think things will go wrong, they will.  If you think you can’t run a mile without stopping, you won’t.  If you think you’ll drown during your triathlon, you’ll panic and quit

 

I started to think more positivity after I met the Husband.  He’s really into positive visualizations.  Once I started to put a little more faith into things working out, more and more things began to turn up ROSES!  Even when bad things happen, I try to look on the bright side and end up feeling better faster  an I would if I wallowed in my misery.  Not saying that my life is perfect (it’s not… not everything goes on the blog), but it’s SO much easier now that I’m more positive.

{ 71 comments }

 

  • Samantha @ Mama Notes January 29, 2010, 2:50 pm

    I hate showering at the gym!!

    That sandwich looks delicious. You’ve got me hungry now!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet January 29, 2010, 2:53 pm

    I definitely believe in positive thinking! I am a huge believer in the laws of attraction too. I have all my goals written on a sheet of paper and I look at them every morning when I wake up. Starts my day out right!!

  • Katie (Sweet Tater) January 29, 2010, 2:53 pm

    so true! i’m super negative. i’m working on it.

  • Jessica @ How Sweet January 29, 2010, 2:54 pm

    Oooh also – another one my hubby and I live by – whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right. So true!

  • megan January 29, 2010, 2:55 pm

    I think positive thinking is huge! it’s kind of like if you focus positively on your goals, your subconscious mind is always working on a way to get you there!

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg January 29, 2010, 3:01 pm

    Love that heart dish!!

    Positivity is definitely something that I’ve had to work on, but I find that the more I work on it, the easier it gets!

  • Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com January 29, 2010, 3:04 pm

    Showering at the gym is the worst bit I think! Maybe it’s cos my gym is skank :p
    I agree about positive thought 100%; I swear 95% of, well, everything, is in the mind! Maybe not quite that high, but definetly a majority!
    I found that when I competed in dressage; if I went in feeling like I was going to win, I always did so much better, and the same with running now.
    Positive thoughts all the way!
    Oh and YUM at your sandwich!

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite January 29, 2010, 3:07 pm

    I’m all about positvie thinking! It’s something I work on daily!

  • Samantha January 29, 2010, 3:11 pm

    I need to get this book! Everyone tells me I am in a bad mood…which most of the time I am, but I put a lot of pressure on myself. And that sandwich looks bomb!

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) January 29, 2010, 3:17 pm

    i definitely think positive thinking is a wonderful attribute…i don’t know if we can control our lives by thinking only good things, but it certainly can’t hurt!

    that looks like it could be MY fave vegetarian sandwich!

  • ari January 29, 2010, 3:18 pm

    i love showering and changing at the gym! hahaha. i have a question. how do you measure the distance you’re swimming?

    • caitlin January 29, 2010, 3:19 pm

      the length of my pool is 25 meters 😉 so i just do lots of adding in my head.

  • s. January 29, 2010, 3:19 pm

    i love showering at the gym the mornings when i am the only one there, so quiet and nice. that sandwich looks uh-mah-zing, i need to get on the george foreman bandwagon, methinks.

  • Amber K January 29, 2010, 3:22 pm

    It’s weird because positive thinking always backfires for me. Seriously. Whenever I would think I did fantastic on a test or paper, I would get a horrible grade. But if I thought I majorly bombed something, I would always get an A. I started charting it, and every time I felt confident in school, I’d get a bad grade and vice versa.

    But it ONLY happened with school stuff. So does that mean if I felt overly confident, I wouldn’t study as hard, or wouldn’t take the time to really polish my writing then I would if I was feeling less confident? I have no clue! So weird…

  • Kerry @ Running on Faith January 29, 2010, 3:27 pm

    I completely agree. It is SO easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts and let that chain reaction occur – always focusing on the things that aren’t going well in one’s life. That’s why I decided to start writing my blog – It was too easy to focus on the injury post marathon. What writing has allowed me to do is to really think of the positive, little victories that are occurring but are hard to notice because my mind was wandering to the negative! Thanks for that little part at the end of the post 🙂 AND the yummy vegetarian sandwhich.

  • Alexandra January 29, 2010, 3:33 pm

    I could not agree more with your belief on positive thinking. It is probably the one thing I preach to my peers more than anything!

  • Evan Thomas January 29, 2010, 3:33 pm

    That sandwich looks delicious! I love bulky veggies

  • Foy Update - Cook. Garden. Write. Repeat. January 29, 2010, 3:36 pm

    I completely agree. When you think you are going to accomplish something you are more likely to accomplish it. Interestingly, I read, that if you visualize the obsticles you might face on the way towards your goals and then visualize how you will over come them you are even more likely to complete your goal.

    Kind of another way of thinking about the boyscouts motto. Always be prepared.

  • Kristin January 29, 2010, 3:39 pm

    Hello Caitlin!

    I just started following your blog and love it 🙂 I was inspired to start my own at: http://www.healthnutloveschocolate.blogspot.com. I would appreciate it if you would check it out. I’m training for my first half marathon and would love to hear some advice from you. Thanks!

    • Caitlin January 29, 2010, 3:41 pm

      YAY for joining the blog world! if you want some tips, i suggest checking out Meghann’s Blogging 101 series, which you can find under http://www.graduatemeghann.com top posts page.

      • liane January 29, 2010, 5:22 pm

        Oooh, thanks for the link 🙂
        I just started a blog as well, after a few months of checking out everyone elses and “lurking”.
        I’ve learned so much from all you gals out there in blog land 🙂

  • Tami January 29, 2010, 3:44 pm

    i am learning to swim and my workouts were so great this week, everything really clicked. glad things are going well for you too.

  • Katie @ Health for the Whole Self January 29, 2010, 3:48 pm

    I really appreciate you spreading the word about the power of positive thinking! While attitude certainly doesn’t make our lives go perfectly, as you said, it definitely makes us better equipped to manage them when things go wrong! And it just makes us more pleasant to be around. We all know that we’re naturally drawn to positive people who make life fun and interesting, rather than negative people who pull others down with them.

  • Marisa (Loser for Life) January 29, 2010, 3:48 pm

    I agree with you 100% on the positive thinking! Thoughts become things, choose the good ones!

    GREAT job on your swimming!

  • Lauren @ Eater not a runner January 29, 2010, 3:49 pm

    That sandwich looks incredible!!

  • Danielle January 29, 2010, 3:54 pm

    I just caught up on your posts for the day and I am right there with you on the positive thinking and ESP. With the latter, I often find myself suddenly thinking about a particular person before they call or I won’t have my phone on me all day and at some point feel the need to go get it, at which point I notice that I am receiving or just missed a somehow important phone call. And I don’t believe in being any other way but optimistic, it makes each day a little brighter and is usually strong enough to positively influence others as well, just as your husband turned your thoughts around 🙂 have a great day!

  • Bonnie January 29, 2010, 3:56 pm

    You’re not alone, I definitely get excited about changing and showering at the gym! It feels like I’m doing something important, that I need to have a bag with me full of stuff… if that makes sense.

  • Angela (Oh She Glows) January 29, 2010, 4:00 pm

    That sandwich deserves a gold medal…in the Olympics.

  • Sarah @ Long Legs Healthy Life January 29, 2010, 4:03 pm

    I hate showering at the gym, mostly because my gym is very no-frills and the showers are kinda scuzzy. Your sandwich looks soooo yummy, I love anything that is grilled like that! And of course, the crack chips again! (I finished my bag last night, and I just might have to go to Costco today and get some more!)

    I forwarded your link from your post about positive thinking to my husband. I very much believe in the power of positive thinking, but he can be very doom and gloom. Thanks for the tips on positive thinking!!

  • eatingRD January 29, 2010, 4:07 pm

    I’m totally into positive thinking to manifesting one’s destiny. Have you ever read Wayne Dyer? it’s kind of more spiritual, but really makes you think in different ways.
    I need to start swimming!!! I just have to go for it I guess and find the time 🙂 Have a great weekend!!

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance....after a 100+ Pound weight loss!!! January 29, 2010, 4:10 pm

    I am TOTALLY there with you on “postive thinking” though these days it is VERY HARD to do but I still try my best every day and I believe in what you said exactly!!!

    I find when I am thinking badly then more bad things happen then if I hadn’t been thinking that way………my husband used to be a very negative thinker and believe me he had good reason and very bad luck……..but I started working on him and 3+ years later he finally thinks more postive and his life is starting to go the more postive direction! =)

  • Nicole, MS, RD, LD January 29, 2010, 4:11 pm

    I think that’s important for readers to know — bloggers can be selective about what goes on the blog : ) And the power of positive thinking is SO powerful! I couldn’t agree more!

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers January 29, 2010, 4:14 pm

    I agree- being positive can definitely affect how you take things in life. The hard part is figuring out how to be positive when you don’t feel like it! 🙂

  • Mama Pea January 29, 2010, 4:22 pm

    I’m envisioning Pea Daddy bringing roses and cupcakes to date night tonight….we’ll see how that goes!!!

    I definitely see you as a positive person, but you aren’t shooting hearts and flowers up our hoohahs, which I appreciate, so thank you!

  • Karla January 29, 2010, 4:27 pm

    I completely agree! Positive thinking makes a world of difference. When I came back to school a few weeks ago I was really don’t. I hated the idea of leaving my family, friends and boyfriend and going back to a FREEZING cold place where I’d have to work hard and be miserable. But one day I decided to stop sulking and smile and it hasn’t been bad since then. In addition to positive thinking, smiling (I mean physically smiling) makes everything a million times better too!

  • Jess January 29, 2010, 4:29 pm

    I like showering at the gym, too. I’m tall and my home showers (I rent) always are too short for me. I bonking my head on the nozzle! The gym showers are nice and tall. And they have good heat and pressure. I’m willing to suck up the public nakedness for a good shower!

  • Tay January 29, 2010, 4:35 pm

    haha I LOVE changing and getting ready at the gym. I love that my day then just feels fresh and started once I leave and I don’t have to go home and go through the hassle of getting ready.

    Great swim workout btw 🙂

  • Steph @ My Life In Motion January 29, 2010, 4:36 pm

    I think you are such a positive person. You always have such a great attitude every day….It helps me to stay positive as well. 🙂 I tagged you for the beautiful blogger award. Here’s the link to my blog! http://tinyurl.com/beautifulblogger

  • Megan January 29, 2010, 4:39 pm

    I was just thinking today how long it has been since I showered at my apartment…I sometimes shower two times at the YMCA a day. I like it because I can sit in the sauna a little before the shower AND I get ready really quick at the gym versus my house.

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) January 29, 2010, 4:50 pm

    I’ve found that thinking positively puts me in a better mood overall, no matter what the situation. If I can put a positive spin on the situation, it somehow makes everything seem not as bad.

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) January 29, 2010, 4:54 pm

    While I don’t think you can attact things by just positive thinking I do believe that you can make any situation better by looking at the positive part of it instead of the negative. It is so easy to see the negative but looking for the positive helps us to keep going forward instead just stopping.

  • Antonia January 29, 2010, 4:56 pm

    I love showering at the gym too! I only shower at home like once or twice a week now. Your sandwich looks delish!

  • Katie January 29, 2010, 4:59 pm

    YES! The power of positive thinking is an amazing thing.

  • alexe @ soyaetchocolat January 29, 2010, 5:01 pm

    I’m lucky enough to live three streets away from my gym so I can come back and shower at home… yeah!
    I don’t know if it counts as positive thinking but I realized recently that when I’m really happy, even better things start to happen… Does that sentence make any sense? I mean that, when I tell myself how lucky I am, things get even better (new job, more friends, etc.).
    Your sandwich looks awesome by the way. I’m putting eggplant on my grocery list tonight!

  • Kelly January 29, 2010, 5:05 pm

    That sandwich looks amazing!! How perfect! 🙂

    And yay for positive thought…I firmly believe it has the power to change EVERYTHING!!!

  • Jacquie @ SweetestThingDC January 29, 2010, 5:09 pm

    I completely agree with positive thinking. My mom always taught me to “find the silver lining” of any bad situation. The bad part might be x, but what’s the good it in. It helps a lot and am known to give my friends the silver lining whenever they have a problem.
    I think you’re right too about it helping you reach your goals. I started bikram yoga this week and boy is it hot and hard, but I feel fabulous. Obviously it’s easy to get dizzy and lightheaded but you fight threw it and end up thinking at the end of class, “wow I did it!” YAY!

  • Danielle (Coffee Run) January 29, 2010, 5:37 pm

    I completely agree about positive thinking. I had a really crappy day yesterday and just thinking it was ok…made it ok.
    Your sandwich looks SO good!

  • Kayla @ Wholesome January 29, 2010, 5:52 pm

    Caitlin- I couldn’t agree more with you about the power of positive thought. Sometimes I will stop what I’m doing when I feel myself getting negative, whiny, or beginning to complain. Then I MAKE myself breath deep, push out the negative (literally, I push it with my hands, sounds ridic) and I always feel better. So, you’re not crazy or weird, and I feel ya 🙂

  • Laura January 29, 2010, 5:59 pm

    Ooh that sandwhich looks lovely!

  • Ellen Collis January 29, 2010, 6:03 pm

    I watched The Secret video, and it’s pretty cheesy. It’s like, “If you have bills piling up, just visualize having the money to pay them off and you will!” So yeah, it’s a little annoying, but I TOTALLY believe in the jist of it. Maintaining positivity after losing my job has been so imperative, and it has totally helped. If you’re positive, you keep pushing and searching, and something, even if it’s small, usually DOES work out.

    http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

  • Lauren January 29, 2010, 6:05 pm

    I LOVE showering at the gym….especially since my gym is Equinox! The showers are spotless and they even have Kiehls products in all the locker rooms. It beats the bathroom and products at my apt by a landslide!

  • Matt January 29, 2010, 6:17 pm

    Lol I hate showering at the gym. I hate even going into the locker room! Some of those old men are a bit too open…

  • Retta @ RunRettaRun January 29, 2010, 6:19 pm

    Truly believe in positive thinking. I used to be awful about thinking negatively and it became self-fulfilling prophecies. I read Norman Vincent Peale’s book, The Power of Positive Thinking. What an amazing book. I highly recommend it!

  • Hillary @ Nutrition Nut on the Run January 29, 2010, 6:22 pm

    Your grilled veggie sammie looks delish minus the eggplant for me =) Way to be positive!

  • empowerhealth January 29, 2010, 6:50 pm

    I love all of your food ideas!!! Where do you get your vegetarian recipes?! I became vegetarian about a month and a half ago and am still working on new food ideas. You don’t realize how much meat you eat until you take it out lol I’m running out of sandwich ideas so any links or book titles would be greatly appreciated from you or anyone else out there : ) Keep up the swimming!

    • Caitlin January 29, 2010, 6:52 pm

      hmmm honestly, i just get a lot of basic ingredients: beans, feta cheese, cheddar cheese, peanut butter veggies, hummus, and tofu and keep combining in new a weird ways. veggies i put on sandwiches: sprouts, mashed sweet potatoes, cranberries, lettuce, grilled veggies, artichoke, sundried tomatoes, carrots, etc.

      maybe my next book should be a vegetarian sandwich book. Hmm.

      • empowerhealth January 30, 2010, 10:04 am

        haha I guess I’ve got to do some experimenting with different foods! …well just to let you know your my hero for writing a book, its on my bucket list. Seems like an arduous task to actually complete one 🙂 … In other words “you rock!” lol

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) January 29, 2010, 6:53 pm

    I”m glad you got your workout in…me? Eating a granola bar and checking blogs…gonna hit up chipotle in a bit. Sorry it’s LAZY day for me. BTW I totally agree with you on the power of THINKING positive. I see how being negative and jealous affects others around me and it’s not a pretty site. You only live one life, enjoy it or at least HOPE to enjoy it.

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) January 29, 2010, 7:11 pm

    I love that you have found a new appreciation for veggies!!!

  • Jenna @ EatingGreen, StayingLean January 29, 2010, 7:30 pm

    The comment about positive thoughts is SO TRUE. My roommate is an extremely negative person and it’s even hard to live with someone that is that negative all the time. I love her, but after a while it brings me down. I’ve just started encouraging her to be more positive, and so far, so good 🙂

    Also, that sandwich looks AMAZING.

  • Jess (www.upsanddownes.wordpress.com) January 29, 2010, 7:38 pm

    I actually feel like BLOGGING HAS MADE ME A MORE POSITIVE PERSON…do you feel like that? I dunno I just feel like in writing I am able to be more objective and appreciative. Does anyone else agree?

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing January 29, 2010, 8:16 pm

    Sounds like a tough workout! And that veggie sammie sounds so good!!! I will have to try that..

    And you are SO right about positive thinking. If you allow yourself to wallow in misery.. you will be unhappy. It’s hard to climb out of that. But if you try to look on the bright side, the world just seems like a better place 🙂 I have realized that recently and I am a lot more happier when I try to think positively.

  • Kristi January 29, 2010, 8:19 pm

    What a great workout! And a gorgeous sandwich! I believe happiness is a choice I make each day. I used to work with a lady who said ‘life is what you make it – no more and no less’.

  • Jenna January 29, 2010, 10:12 pm

    Sandwich looks great!!

  • Katharine January 30, 2010, 12:06 am

    Also check out “The Power of Positive Thinking” – very awesome and inspiring book. 🙂

  • MarathonVal January 30, 2010, 12:51 am

    While I found The Secret to be pretty cheesey myself – although Oprah always says that you “dont get it until you are at the point where you are ready to receive the information” – I do agree that positivity can shape our lives and I truly feel that it can have a greater impact than we even suspect that it can.

    That said…. I hate hate hate showering at the gym!! Haha… I love showering at home where I know where everything is 🙂

  • Tracy January 30, 2010, 8:07 am

    You are such a positive girl. Your blog is really inspiring – I love your no frills approach to life and your honesty with your readers. You should be proud!

  • Jenny January 30, 2010, 9:05 am

    I’m really enjoying reading about your adventures in swimming workouts!

    I completely agree that positive thought is probably about 90% of how things happen and how we handle them. I kind of think of it like how living a healthy life is said to be 10% exercise, 90% what you eat..well if we think positively, even “bad” things that happen won’t turn out so bad. We can cope with life in an entirely different way depending on our perspective.

  • caronae January 30, 2010, 10:10 am

    Yay for positivity! I write one positive thing about myself on my blog everyday, and it has nor only helped my self-confidence, but it really does seem to make my whole life happier!

  • Rachel @ Working Out Wellness January 30, 2010, 11:04 am

    I want to believe in positive thinking, but it is so hard for me to believe in something I can’t see/there is no proof of. I definitely want to become more “positive.” Though I don’t think I have a tendency to look on the negative side of things, I’m not sure I look on the positive side either, haha.

  • Erica January 30, 2010, 7:48 pm

    I also did the shoulders and triceps workout on Friday, and it’s almost 48 hours later and my shoulders are Killing me! Love it!

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