Saturday, July 16, 2011

Frankie says "Relax"

But don't relax too much.  Because clearly that is what I have done.  I weighed in on Friday, and I have only lost .4 pounds in the last three weeks.  And while I continue to run three times a week, I have clearly blown my good eating habits over the weekends.  I can honestly say that is what happened.  I tend to relax a little too much and throw everything I have done down the drain on the weekends.  Like I "deserve" to eat.  I have to switch that mentality quickly!  This is a lifestyle change and food rewards are just no good! 

I think everyone struggles when they commit to a change in their life and food issues really are no different.  And while, no, I won't gain back the weight overnight, I have to remember that I didn't gain it overnight to begin with.  It was a series of years in the making and a long path of poor choices.  One bad weekend leads to two bad weekends, and on and on...

So, with that, I plan to totally get back on track.  I'm ready to move to the next step which is to lose the final 2.8 pounds to put myself into a new decade! 

I sincerely appreciate all of your encouragement!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

My 5k Comeback!

Hello all!  It has been awhile, and so much has happened in the last month!  I continue to "joggle" 3 days a week and also continue to fight the good healthy food fight.  I have a weigh-in this Friday and I'm hopeful that I will enter a new decade this time.  It has actually been 3 weeks since I weighed myself.

This past Saturday, I ran in a 5k race to benefit the youth group at my church.  It was in my neighborhood, so I couldn't reasonably say no.  It was at 8:00 in the morning, so it wasn't too hot, but the humidity in Ohio is just unbearable sometimes, so it was definitely sticky!  I couldn't be more ecstatic about my results because I finished it in 37:50!  That is just amazing compared to some of the past races I have done.  My last 5k was in October, 2010, and I beat that time by 12 minutes.  The kicker is that I actually walked the first 5 minutes to warm up, so I was really putting a lot of effort into this run.  If I would have kept up that pace for a 10k, I would have beat my results of the 10k race I ran in April by almost 10 minutes.  Just awesome for me! 

I began using a new training program on my iPhone called Podrunner:Intervals Gateway to 8k, and I love it as much as the 5k training program I previously used.  I am a little embarrassed to admit that I am still on week one, but I have been doing it for almost 3 weeks.  It is really tough, and again, the heat and humidity has been exhausting, so it's all I can do to run 3-4 times a week!  At any rate, I'm still exercising and gettin' my sweat on!

I am trying to reassess my plans to run a Half-Marathon in October.  At this point, I just don't know if I'm ready for that large of a goal.  Yes, I'm wimping out a little, but I'm also trying to be realistic.  I don't want to end up hating exercise.  I am really comfortable with running 3-4 miles at a time right now, but at the same time, I know I need to push the envelope a little.  So, we shall see.  I may make my next goal a 10k and hope to run most of it.  I really think that is a better goal for me right now.

I hope all is well with everyone and that you are taking the time to get out and enjoy some of this blistering sun!

Monday, June 13, 2011

I was Runnin'!

And runnin' I was!  Last night I went for a run and I'm proud to say that I ran for two miles straight!  This is a huge deal for me folks.  I am loving the Podrunner:Intervals program so much!  I never, EVER thought I would be able to run the way I used to, so I am definitely thrilled with that.  I did it in 25 minutes, with a 5 minute walking warm-up and cool-down on each side.  And the best part was that I was not really too winded.  So, I am making strides people!

As for my Weigh-In last week, I only lost 1 additional pound over a two-week period.  I have slowed WAY down in this department and I would really like to pick that part back up.  I have become a little relaxed on my eating habits and I really need to re-focus on this.  I have come way too far to quit at this point.  I really don't think that the healthy changes I have made are ever going to change, but it has become way too easy to slip in the no-no's every once in a while.  I think in my head that one little thing isn't going to hurt me, but I simply cannot live with that attitude.  That is what got me into trouble to begin with!

So, I continue on.  I plan to run again on Tuesday and Thursday.  I need to incorporate my Polar HRM back into my exercise routine, but I found that it is a little cumbersome to have the watch, the monitor strapped around my chest, and my iPhone in my armband all at once.  There are a billion programs out there for the iPhone to monitor heart rate and calories, but I just can't imagine how accurate they are if you aren't wearing the actual monitor around your chest. 

Do you use any smartphone apps for running or exercise, and if so, what do you like?

Monday, June 6, 2011

My Training Plan...or Not...

Hello everyone!  I have been so ridiculously busy over the past few weeks.  My work has definitely been busier and when I come home in the evening I find myself wanting to just go outside and play with the kiddo.  He absolutely loves being outside, so I try to take advantage whenever I can.  Couple that with him falling ill with strep throat, let's just say life has been hectic.

At any rate, my running plan continues on and I struggle everyday with fighting this good fight.  But alas, I still plan to conquer.  I have a great friend that provided me with a new term to use in place of what I like to call, "running."  It's called "joggling."  So for now, I will call myslef a Joggler.   A little mix of walking, skipping, hopping, and kind of picking my feet up off the ground in a faster-than-walking pace.  There it is: Joggling!

So on my continued path of becoming the greatest Joggler known to mankind, I continue to exercise at a minimum of three days a week.  I was thrown a little off track by my vacation a few weeks ago, so I am now on Week 6 Day 2 of the Podrunner:Intervals First Day to 5k Program.  And can I just say that I am loving it.  It totally consumes my mind so I really don't think about my breathing technique at all.  But obviously something is working because, well, I haven't passed out yet from not breathing.  But as with anything, I do have two issues.  One, I still don't really like water.  I am trying really hard to over-hydrate on the days I know I am going to joggle, but I know I'm still not getting enough water.  And two, I absolutely hate from the bottom of heart bumble bees.  With the extremely hot and humid weather, they are inevitable.  But, nonetheless, I hate them.  They cause me to completely freeze and panic.  They scare...me...to...death!  And they insist on following me down the bike path every time I run.  I am allergic to them, and am terrified I am going to get stung.  I mean, seriously, what are you supposed to do when they start bouncing off of your head and swarming around you, ready to attack?  Do you just keep running?  Will they eventually go away?  Ugh, if I could just figure that out, I really would be fine.  I know I need to ask for a prescription for an EpiPen, just in case, but you know how that goes.  I just haven't made the time to do it.

Anyway, I am still trying to find the perfect training plan for this Half Marathon that I am just crazy enough to participate in.  I blame my husband's cousin for that.  Thanks, Katy...

I have looked high and low for the right plan and I still haven't come up with the perfect plan for me.  I still don't know if I am woman enough to actually think that I'm going to run the whole thing.  AHHH, decisions, decisions!

As for a weigh-in update, I did have a successful WooHoo Weigh-In almost two weeks ago.  I have not quite hit that 20 pound milestone, but I'm confident it is going to happen this week.  It HAS to!  I totally have "pants on the ground syndrome", so something has to give here!  I need to go shopping!

Do any of you have the same fear of bees that I do?  Do any of you recommend a Half-Marathon training plan for a Joggler like myself?

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Where you at?

Well, here I am!  After a short hiatus, I have re-entered reality.  I haven't posted since Mother's Day because we have been just SO busy!  My husband and I take a trip each year down to Charlotte, NC and we just got back.  The trip serves two purposes: first to see one of my sisters and second to attend the NASCAR All-Star Race.  Yes, I do have a little redneck in me (but please don't tell anyone).  The truth is that I love NASCAR and my in-laws buy us tickets to go down to Charlotte every year to see the race.  It's an awesome time of relaxation and extended family time.  See, as proof, here we are:


And yes, I also got my hair did last week.  I have wanted to grow it out for some time, but since my hair is quite fine, the only way I could do it was by getting a perm.  So far so good!  My son took one look at me and said, "Mommy, why is your hair so silly?"  :-)

I was a pretty good girl when we were out of town.  I did indulge a little, but I am now past it and back on track.  I even ran 2 miles on the morning of the race!  And here's the proof of that:



I plan to weigh-in this Friday.  Fingers crossed for a "WooHoo Weigh-In!"


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

I'm melting...

Or at least that's what I thought!  Tonight was my sort of re-entry into running/walking, except this time I ran.  And I was sweating buckets.  I walked twice last week, but that celebration is over.  If I am considering a Half-Marathon, it's time to get busy!  But more on that later...

My Mother's Day was awesome!  My son made some things for me at pre-school and he was SO proud to give them to me.  Honestly, there are no better presents than the ones that come from your child's heart.  And the sappy little poem that was attached to the picture of his hand print was absolutely amazing!  He was just gleaming, and I couldn't have asked for a better gift.  Having said that...my husband "helped" my son buy me an awesome Mother's Day gift.  I have been toying around with buying an iPod for quite some time.  At the same time, it was time for me to buy a new cell phone.  Mine was quite outdated.  I didn't even have texting capabilities!  Mostly because I have been resistant, and not because I'm not "hip."  So, my gift was the new iPhone 4 from Verizon.  And can I say, it is unbelievable!  The funny part is that I didn't even know how to answer a call at first.  I work in technology for a living, but have sworn against modern technology for some time.  Nonetheless, I now have a sweet phone. 

One of my friends from work just finished the C25K program, and she told me about a podcast that she downloaded for free.  So, Terri, meet Podrunner:Intervals.  And let me just say, this program is amazing!  It keeps your stride, bpm's (beats per minute), and breathing totally under control.  Because I just finished a 10k, I decided to start with Week 4.  I want to be able to run most of the Half, so I really thought it would be wise for me to go back and re-visit a running training program to get my running under control.  I just loved it.  And 3 miles was done and over in no time!  I'm a dance-party music type of girl, and the music for this program is techno-like.  Honestly, I didn't think about my breathing patterns one time.  I was so focused on getting in sync with the beat of the music that it just flowed naturally.  I am really looking forward to doing it again on Thursday!

As for Mother's Day, I wanted to share a pic of me and my baby boy!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Just a quick check-in...

I don't know why I felt compelled to weigh myself this morning, but I did it anyway.  And no, it wasn't bad news, but it wasn't great news.  It has been 10 days and I have only lost .8 pounds.  I mean, GOOD GRIEF, can a girl get an extra .2 pounds for an even 1 pound???

I swear I stepped on that thing and it actually giggled.  I know that  I haven't done as well as I should this week because I have had this mentality that consisted of rewarding myself with food since I did so well at the 10k last week.

Nonetheless, it's time to get over it and move on.  Onto the next thing...trying to figure out how I'm actually going to train for this Half-Marathon!  Please help me!