As I awoke this morning, I decided I'd use today as a "rest day"....after all...I earned it with my 7 mile shuffle yesterday!
I stretched in my bed and debated whether or not I should get up at that moment...then my older daughter, who has somehow managed to stay out of this blog for the past month, crawled into bed with me...decision made.
She snuggled up against me and I wrapped my arms around her...I love waking up with my babies on the weekends!
She rested silently, sucking her thumb, looking at me as I looked at her beautiful little face...such a sweet angel...I could've rested there all day with her like that....
Then she spoke....
"Your legs look like walrus blubber." she stated as she looked down at my bare legs. "Can I warm my feet in your blubber?" she asked as she stuck her cold toes between my thighs.
Walrus blubber.
Walrus blubber?!
Perhaps won't be a "rest day" after all....
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
There is hope after all!
Today....was a great day :)
I woke up at 8:30 this morning, worked my lower body on my Pilates reformer...
then went for a 7.1 mile shuffle.
Yes...you read that right.
SEVEN.
MILE.
SHUFFLE.
Today was a beautiful, sunny, warm (65 degree) day...so I went to the park with a 7 mile goal in mind. I wasn't confident that I would make that goal, especially since it has been a week since I attempted to shuffle at all and roughly 2 weeks since my last good shuffle.
I decided I would run the roads this time, instead of the path, to change things up for muscles in my ankles and feet. I was hopeful that the change would allow my lower legs to loosen properly and give my left leg a break so I wouldn't have the same issue I had last time.
After a good, long stretch at my car, I put on my scuba socks (thin, neoprene socks made to protect the feet while wearing fins) and walked around the parking lot to loosen up before I began. I felt pretty good...no tightness at all in my left leg....so I began my shuffle.
The first part of the road I was on was a bit rough...(lots of little pebbles and the asphalt is broken in quite a few spots). My socks did a great job keeping the tiny rocks from sticking to the bottom of my feet. I started at a really slow pace...my legs felt great...my feet felt great.
Ok...I thought...here I go....the first steps towards seven miles!
Right away, my hydration belt began bouncing on my stomach. (I don't carry any hydration in my belt...I carry my phone, my scuba socks, GU packets, Bandaids, and pepper spray.) As I began to get annoyed of the bouncing on my stomach, I realized two things......
One....my form was off. Running barefoot should be smooth...gliding...not bouncy. Bouncing indicates that the large muscles in my legs are not taking all the force of my footfalls...my hips, knees, and back are. I bent my knees slightly and tucked my hips under me....much smoother.
Two....and most exciting....my hydration belt was too big!!!! I hadn't adjusted my belt....it just "grew"!!! Once I realized this, I was thrilled to feel the bouncing of the belt!
One mile passed.....
then two.....
then three.....
and I felt amazing!
So amazing that I got chills!! (and not because I was cold!).
I felt strong...invincible.....in fact, I may have leapt a building or two in a single bound!!
I came to my turn around point....and didn't stop.
I just kept going....
Like Forest Gump...."I. Was. Running!"
I left the park and headed onto the road. Conquered a few hills, then came to a point where I could no longer safely run without shoes (no berm wide enough to give me enough space between me and passing cars), so I turned around and headed back to the park.
Upon arriving back at the park, I stopped just long enough to eat a GU and throw away the wrapper. I took my socks off and tucked them into my belt. Having my feet bare on the ground gave me a renewed sense of energy and I began my barefoot shuffle back to my car.
This way was hard when you were riding your bike the other day...I thought to myself...you're not going to be able to shuffle this...you'll need to walk a while.
I pushed that thought out of my head and kept on...slow and steady. After shuffling to the top of a couple hills I thought something that I have never thought before...
This. is. easier. than. biking!!
I got the chills again....and big, stupid grin on my face.
I'm certain I looked like a lunatic.
Strong, slow, and steady I shuffled on...I breathed in the smell of the pine trees and appreciated the contrast between the cool shade and warm sun on the bottom of my feet.
I shuffled for 1 hour and 28 minutes today....nonstop, except to eat GU and take off/put on my socks.
I ran a little over a 1/4 marathon today!
4 weeks ago, I couldn't run two miles straight....
What a difference one month makes!!
I woke up at 8:30 this morning, worked my lower body on my Pilates reformer...
then went for a 7.1 mile shuffle.
Yes...you read that right.
SEVEN.
MILE.
SHUFFLE.
Today was a beautiful, sunny, warm (65 degree) day...so I went to the park with a 7 mile goal in mind. I wasn't confident that I would make that goal, especially since it has been a week since I attempted to shuffle at all and roughly 2 weeks since my last good shuffle.
I decided I would run the roads this time, instead of the path, to change things up for muscles in my ankles and feet. I was hopeful that the change would allow my lower legs to loosen properly and give my left leg a break so I wouldn't have the same issue I had last time.
After a good, long stretch at my car, I put on my scuba socks (thin, neoprene socks made to protect the feet while wearing fins) and walked around the parking lot to loosen up before I began. I felt pretty good...no tightness at all in my left leg....so I began my shuffle.
The first part of the road I was on was a bit rough...(lots of little pebbles and the asphalt is broken in quite a few spots). My socks did a great job keeping the tiny rocks from sticking to the bottom of my feet. I started at a really slow pace...my legs felt great...my feet felt great.
Ok...I thought...here I go....the first steps towards seven miles!
Right away, my hydration belt began bouncing on my stomach. (I don't carry any hydration in my belt...I carry my phone, my scuba socks, GU packets, Bandaids, and pepper spray.) As I began to get annoyed of the bouncing on my stomach, I realized two things......
One....my form was off. Running barefoot should be smooth...gliding...not bouncy. Bouncing indicates that the large muscles in my legs are not taking all the force of my footfalls...my hips, knees, and back are. I bent my knees slightly and tucked my hips under me....much smoother.
Two....and most exciting....my hydration belt was too big!!!! I hadn't adjusted my belt....it just "grew"!!! Once I realized this, I was thrilled to feel the bouncing of the belt!
One mile passed.....
then two.....
then three.....
and I felt amazing!
So amazing that I got chills!! (and not because I was cold!).
I felt strong...invincible.....in fact, I may have leapt a building or two in a single bound!!
I came to my turn around point....and didn't stop.
I just kept going....
Like Forest Gump...."I. Was. Running!"
I left the park and headed onto the road. Conquered a few hills, then came to a point where I could no longer safely run without shoes (no berm wide enough to give me enough space between me and passing cars), so I turned around and headed back to the park.
Upon arriving back at the park, I stopped just long enough to eat a GU and throw away the wrapper. I took my socks off and tucked them into my belt. Having my feet bare on the ground gave me a renewed sense of energy and I began my barefoot shuffle back to my car.
This way was hard when you were riding your bike the other day...I thought to myself...you're not going to be able to shuffle this...you'll need to walk a while.
I pushed that thought out of my head and kept on...slow and steady. After shuffling to the top of a couple hills I thought something that I have never thought before...
This. is. easier. than. biking!!
I got the chills again....and big, stupid grin on my face.
I'm certain I looked like a lunatic.
Strong, slow, and steady I shuffled on...I breathed in the smell of the pine trees and appreciated the contrast between the cool shade and warm sun on the bottom of my feet.
I shuffled for 1 hour and 28 minutes today....nonstop, except to eat GU and take off/put on my socks.
I ran a little over a 1/4 marathon today!
4 weeks ago, I couldn't run two miles straight....
What a difference one month makes!!
 |
| Slow and steady.... |
Friday, April 26, 2013
Keepin' it real......Scientific data: Week 4
Dear Scale,
Our relationship is toxic and it is time for us to go our separate ways. You are an emotionally abusive a**hole (sorry, Mom!)....no....really.....you are. According to...well...whoever this person is, our relationship fits the definition of emotionally abusive:
"Emotional abuse is like brain washing in that it systematically wears away at the victim’s self-confidence, sense of self-worth, trust in their own perceptions, and self-concept. Whether it is done by constant berating and belittling, by intimidation, or under the guise of “guidance,” “teaching,” or “advice,” the results are similar. Eventually, the recipient of the abuse loses all sense of self and remnants of personal value. Emotional abuse cuts to the very core of a person, creating scars that may be far deeper and more lasting than physical ones (Engel, 1992).
I am tired of stepping on you, every morning, and having you look up at my naked body and hopeful eyes...then, mocking me.....spit out a really crappy number that crushes everything I've worked toward and every ounce of confidence I gained.
You suck.
So.....I am leaving you and banishing you to the spare bathroom where you will collect dust bunnies and never be stepped on again. I put you close to the toilet...I am hoping someone pees on you, or perhaps the toilet will overflow all over you....
I have purposely left in your batteries in the hopes that they will explode in you and leak acid all over your connectors so you can never hurt anyone again.
Peace out,
Karen
T Minus 51 days!!
Original weight: 165
Last week's weight: 161.8
Today's weight: 161.6 (Whoop-de-freakin'-do!!)
Miles walked: 2 hilly miles
Miles shuffled: 5 really icky miles
Bike riding miles: 10.9 "windy" miles
(Number of felonies considered but not committed: 1)
Pilates: Once
Stationary bike: Once
Ok....so can ya tell that I have completely lost focus of my REAL goal....that is to run 13.1 in June? It's time to refocus....weight loss was not my goal...running was! (Weight loss was supposed to be a nice bi product of training, though!!)
And, really....those numbers are terrible! This was a very slow week for exercise, and I suppose I am lucky to have had even the tiniest of losses, instead of a gain.
"They" say that "insanity is doing something the same but expecting different results".
Well, call the men in white coats and take me away....this past week was pretty much a lot of "sitting and eating" (ring a bell??)...yet I somehow expected to see an improvement.
So....(deep breath)......time to refocus......and move forward.
Our relationship is toxic and it is time for us to go our separate ways. You are an emotionally abusive a**hole (sorry, Mom!)....no....really.....you are. According to...well...whoever this person is, our relationship fits the definition of emotionally abusive:
"Emotional abuse is like brain washing in that it systematically wears away at the victim’s self-confidence, sense of self-worth, trust in their own perceptions, and self-concept. Whether it is done by constant berating and belittling, by intimidation, or under the guise of “guidance,” “teaching,” or “advice,” the results are similar. Eventually, the recipient of the abuse loses all sense of self and remnants of personal value. Emotional abuse cuts to the very core of a person, creating scars that may be far deeper and more lasting than physical ones (Engel, 1992).
I am tired of stepping on you, every morning, and having you look up at my naked body and hopeful eyes...then, mocking me.....spit out a really crappy number that crushes everything I've worked toward and every ounce of confidence I gained.
You suck.
So.....I am leaving you and banishing you to the spare bathroom where you will collect dust bunnies and never be stepped on again. I put you close to the toilet...I am hoping someone pees on you, or perhaps the toilet will overflow all over you....
I have purposely left in your batteries in the hopes that they will explode in you and leak acid all over your connectors so you can never hurt anyone again.
Peace out,
Karen
T Minus 51 days!!
Original weight: 165
Last week's weight: 161.8
Today's weight: 161.6 (Whoop-de-freakin'-do!!)
Miles walked: 2 hilly miles
Miles shuffled: 5 really icky miles
Bike riding miles: 10.9 "windy" miles
(Number of felonies considered but not committed: 1)
Pilates: Once
Stationary bike: Once
Ok....so can ya tell that I have completely lost focus of my REAL goal....that is to run 13.1 in June? It's time to refocus....weight loss was not my goal...running was! (Weight loss was supposed to be a nice bi product of training, though!!)
And, really....those numbers are terrible! This was a very slow week for exercise, and I suppose I am lucky to have had even the tiniest of losses, instead of a gain.
"They" say that "insanity is doing something the same but expecting different results".
Well, call the men in white coats and take me away....this past week was pretty much a lot of "sitting and eating" (ring a bell??)...yet I somehow expected to see an improvement.
So....(deep breath)......time to refocus......and move forward.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Pizza? Yes, please!
Once again, I come to my computer complaining of my serious lack of athletic abilities....I seem to think this helps...or, at least, I am hoping it will help! So...complain, I will!
Either I am not really adapting after all (those couple of times I thought I was were certainly flukes!!), or I am adapting at a snail's pace! So slow, in fact, that I cannot even notice it!!!
Like watching grass grow...
I am FAR too impatient for this!!
Will it ever stop feeling like a roller coaster ride??
I really hope it does...
When will shuffling ever feel easier? When will I actually enjoy it?? I want to enjoy it....and I enjoy how I feel AFTER I do it...but while I am shuffling...I can honestly say...I enjoy it about as much as I enjoyed getting a plantar wart dug out of my pinky toe this past winter....(I regret not taking a picture of that....it would have made nice visual here).
Especially the first mile. That first mile is the worst....trying to loosen up my muscles and joints...trying to find a good pace...trying to find a good rhythm for my breathing. It is during that first mile that my mind does the good majority of its protesting...it is an excruciatingly LONG mile....
And when I shuffled on Sunday, that first mile was no different.
Except, I never did find a good pace, or breathing rhythm, or loosen up my muscles. Something was just....off....the whole time.
My left lower leg wouldn't relax...it grabbed a hold of itself, and wouldn't let go. I tried changing my form...my pace...my speed (Perhaps I was going too slow!! Maybe I was ready to speed up a bit!!). I sped up, and my muscle ceased up even more. I stopped, and stretched.....I shuffled some more....I stopped and stretched some more....
No luck.
A good shuffle was just not going to happen that day.
Defeated, and a bit ticked off, I walked back to my car. I put 5 slow, stop-and-go miles on my legs...but they don't feel like they really counted. I didn't get my usual "I can conquer the world!!" feeling after that...and I went home feeling pretty disappointed in myself.
On Monday, still sore from whatever was going on during my Sunday shuffle, I decided to go for a bike ride. It was a beautiful, cool, sunny day....and I LOVE to ride my bike!
I mean really.....L.O.V.E. to ride my bike!! It's my favorite exercise to do...and not because it is relatively easy....well, ok....that's exactly why.
I want to love shuffling the way I love bike riding...
So, I went to the park with my bike. I stretched, got on my bike, and took off.
Hmmm....I thought....I'm going to be cold. I should have worn more clothes. There's no way I'm going to sweat. After all.....I'm JUST riding my bike!
The sun was warm, the birds were singing, the wind was cool and smelled like summertime. I smiled to myself and took it all in.....ahhhhhhh, yes.....this was WAY better than shuffling!!
"I could ride all day long!" I said to myself....I was convinced of that!
Maybe I could get in 15 miles today! I thought....
I rode along in silence, listening to the soothing, rhythmic "swish, swish....swish, swish..." of my thighs rubbing against my hydration pack I wore around my waist. Usually, the sound of my thighs rubbing against anything would bring only the feeling of disgust, but not today! Nothing could ruin my total sense of well-being.
In no time, I reached the 3 mile mark where I had to turn around. Going in the opposite direction felt a little more challenging and I found myself having to shift my bike....a lot.
Whew!! I thought. There are more hills this way...and the wind is really picking up!
I continued on and decided to leave the confines of the park and ride on the bike path along 91. My ride became more and more challenging and the wind became stronger and stronger. I pushed as hard as I could, headed right into the wind and slightly up hill.
I will be ecstatic when I can turn around and head back!! I thought.
I was sweating my butt off!!!
Easy, aye?? No sir!! This ride was not easy!
About 100 yards before I reached my second turn around point, I was exhausted. I was tempted to just turn around and head back, but I pushed myself to my original destination. As I approached, I passed a man carrying a small pizza as he walked by me on the path. He smiled and said 'hello'. I smiled back and took a whiff as I rode by.....oh, yum! That pizza smelled like heaven!
By the time I arrived at the turn around point, my only thoughts were of taking a drink and getting off my bike to stretch my legs and hips. My hips hadn't felt that tired since giving birth to my daughters and having my knees unwillingly forced behind my ears!
I stretched and got back on the bike.
This way will be MUCH easier!! I thought....It should be all down hill and the wind should be at your back the whole time! Finally....a few miles of easy, enjoyable, coasting!
I started again.....and there he was....about 50 yards in front of me....the pizza carrying pedestrian. I swear I could smell that pizza again...and it began to take over my brain.
I could steal that from him...I thought.
....I could take it right out of his hand...
and he'd never catch me!
I could taste the pizza....my mouth began to water....hot, gooey cheese, crispy pepperoni, maybe some crunchy green peppers....
I HAD to have it!!
I got closer to him....he held the pizza in his left hand and walked along, totally unaware that I was plotting.....felonious thoughts.....
"On your left" I called out, as he moved over and gave another pleasant smile and a "thank you" to me.
I rode right on by him...
no "grand theft pizza" was committed....
I just wanted to be....done.
As I slowly pedaled along toward the last stretch to my car, the wind continued to blow considerably. How is this possible that I am always riding into the wind? I thought.
Finally, I arrived at the parking lot. I was excited to get off my bike and bask in the breeze. I was sweating pretty good, my pants and shirt were wet and my face was hot. I got off my bike and took off my helmet and.....
waited.....
for the breeze to cool me off....
but it wasn't there. There was no breeze.
I looked at the trees...they were still as can be.
No breeze at all.
Where did the breeze go? I wondered....
Then it hit me....I was the breeze. I was a big, fat, blob on a bike....
I am about as streamlined as a 165 lb pumpkin....
the 'wind' was merely my own resistance to....well.....myself.
Me exercising feels like I am going uphill....in a wind storm....
My whole week has felt this way....
I feel tired and terribly out of shape...
and I have been creating an awful amount of resistance to my moving forward.
I don't really know how to snap out of it...perhaps I just need a good, long, slow-and-steady shuffle....
Or, perhaps I just need a pizza!
Either I am not really adapting after all (those couple of times I thought I was were certainly flukes!!), or I am adapting at a snail's pace! So slow, in fact, that I cannot even notice it!!!
Like watching grass grow...
I am FAR too impatient for this!!
Will it ever stop feeling like a roller coaster ride??
I really hope it does...
When will shuffling ever feel easier? When will I actually enjoy it?? I want to enjoy it....and I enjoy how I feel AFTER I do it...but while I am shuffling...I can honestly say...I enjoy it about as much as I enjoyed getting a plantar wart dug out of my pinky toe this past winter....(I regret not taking a picture of that....it would have made nice visual here).
Especially the first mile. That first mile is the worst....trying to loosen up my muscles and joints...trying to find a good pace...trying to find a good rhythm for my breathing. It is during that first mile that my mind does the good majority of its protesting...it is an excruciatingly LONG mile....
And when I shuffled on Sunday, that first mile was no different.
Except, I never did find a good pace, or breathing rhythm, or loosen up my muscles. Something was just....off....the whole time.
My left lower leg wouldn't relax...it grabbed a hold of itself, and wouldn't let go. I tried changing my form...my pace...my speed (Perhaps I was going too slow!! Maybe I was ready to speed up a bit!!). I sped up, and my muscle ceased up even more. I stopped, and stretched.....I shuffled some more....I stopped and stretched some more....
No luck.
A good shuffle was just not going to happen that day.
Defeated, and a bit ticked off, I walked back to my car. I put 5 slow, stop-and-go miles on my legs...but they don't feel like they really counted. I didn't get my usual "I can conquer the world!!" feeling after that...and I went home feeling pretty disappointed in myself.
On Monday, still sore from whatever was going on during my Sunday shuffle, I decided to go for a bike ride. It was a beautiful, cool, sunny day....and I LOVE to ride my bike!
I mean really.....L.O.V.E. to ride my bike!! It's my favorite exercise to do...and not because it is relatively easy....well, ok....that's exactly why.
I want to love shuffling the way I love bike riding...
So, I went to the park with my bike. I stretched, got on my bike, and took off.
Hmmm....I thought....I'm going to be cold. I should have worn more clothes. There's no way I'm going to sweat. After all.....I'm JUST riding my bike!
The sun was warm, the birds were singing, the wind was cool and smelled like summertime. I smiled to myself and took it all in.....ahhhhhhh, yes.....this was WAY better than shuffling!!
"I could ride all day long!" I said to myself....I was convinced of that!
Maybe I could get in 15 miles today! I thought....
I rode along in silence, listening to the soothing, rhythmic "swish, swish....swish, swish..." of my thighs rubbing against my hydration pack I wore around my waist. Usually, the sound of my thighs rubbing against anything would bring only the feeling of disgust, but not today! Nothing could ruin my total sense of well-being.
In no time, I reached the 3 mile mark where I had to turn around. Going in the opposite direction felt a little more challenging and I found myself having to shift my bike....a lot.
Whew!! I thought. There are more hills this way...and the wind is really picking up!
I continued on and decided to leave the confines of the park and ride on the bike path along 91. My ride became more and more challenging and the wind became stronger and stronger. I pushed as hard as I could, headed right into the wind and slightly up hill.
I will be ecstatic when I can turn around and head back!! I thought.
I was sweating my butt off!!!
Easy, aye?? No sir!! This ride was not easy!
About 100 yards before I reached my second turn around point, I was exhausted. I was tempted to just turn around and head back, but I pushed myself to my original destination. As I approached, I passed a man carrying a small pizza as he walked by me on the path. He smiled and said 'hello'. I smiled back and took a whiff as I rode by.....oh, yum! That pizza smelled like heaven!
By the time I arrived at the turn around point, my only thoughts were of taking a drink and getting off my bike to stretch my legs and hips. My hips hadn't felt that tired since giving birth to my daughters and having my knees unwillingly forced behind my ears!
I stretched and got back on the bike.
This way will be MUCH easier!! I thought....It should be all down hill and the wind should be at your back the whole time! Finally....a few miles of easy, enjoyable, coasting!
I started again.....and there he was....about 50 yards in front of me....the pizza carrying pedestrian. I swear I could smell that pizza again...and it began to take over my brain.
I could steal that from him...I thought.
....I could take it right out of his hand...
and he'd never catch me!
I could taste the pizza....my mouth began to water....hot, gooey cheese, crispy pepperoni, maybe some crunchy green peppers....
I HAD to have it!!
I got closer to him....he held the pizza in his left hand and walked along, totally unaware that I was plotting.....felonious thoughts.....
"On your left" I called out, as he moved over and gave another pleasant smile and a "thank you" to me.
I rode right on by him...
no "grand theft pizza" was committed....
I just wanted to be....done.
As I slowly pedaled along toward the last stretch to my car, the wind continued to blow considerably. How is this possible that I am always riding into the wind? I thought.
Finally, I arrived at the parking lot. I was excited to get off my bike and bask in the breeze. I was sweating pretty good, my pants and shirt were wet and my face was hot. I got off my bike and took off my helmet and.....
waited.....
for the breeze to cool me off....
but it wasn't there. There was no breeze.
I looked at the trees...they were still as can be.
No breeze at all.
Where did the breeze go? I wondered....
Then it hit me....I was the breeze. I was a big, fat, blob on a bike....
I am about as streamlined as a 165 lb pumpkin....
the 'wind' was merely my own resistance to....well.....myself.
Me exercising feels like I am going uphill....in a wind storm....
My whole week has felt this way....
I feel tired and terribly out of shape...
and I have been creating an awful amount of resistance to my moving forward.
I don't really know how to snap out of it...perhaps I just need a good, long, slow-and-steady shuffle....
Or, perhaps I just need a pizza!
Friday, April 19, 2013
Keepin' it real.....Scientific data: Week 3
Three...whole....weeks!!
I've have officially made it past the point where I usually give up and go back to my former ways.
For this, I am celebrating today :) Yay me!! :)
However.....for the scientific data I am presenting today, I cannot really celebrate...because...
well....
I look.....exactly.....the same.
Exactly.
Maybe even worse....
For those of you who are squeamish, now is your chance to look away. The pictures I am about to present are graphic in nature...viewer discretion advised......
 |
| Week 1 (Side gut) |
 |
| Week 3 (Side gut) |
Here's the front view....for your enjoyment....
 |
| Week 1 (Front gut) |
 |
| Week 3 (Front gut) |
I wonder the same thing, actually...
As disturbing as these images are, I have decided that this is a part of how I will gauge my progress.
So...on every odd week of scientific data, I will post a lovely picture of me squeezing myself into these size 12s. I know you are all giddy with anticipation for week 5!!
All in all, I feel like this week has been successful. I have had a couple bad days, but most of the past 7 days have been good. My eating habits are like a roller coaster, but I am hoping that with more time they will begin to level out as I try to break this addiction to
really...
yummy...
fattening...
food.
So...without further adieu......here are the numbers of the week:
Starting weight: 165
Last week's weight: 162.4
Today's weight: 161.8 (SLOWEST 3.2 lbs lost EVER!!!!!!)
Miles shuffled: 17.5 (Horray!!)
Miles biked: 10 (Happy!!)
Yoga: 0 (Oops...)
Pilates: 1 (Oops again...)
Stationary bike: 0 (Ok...so I HATE to exercise inside!!!)
Number of mornings I woke up early to exercise: 1
Number of mornings I hit snooze 12 times and fought with myself to "GET UP AND EXERCISE ALREADY!!!".....then never woke up and exercised: 6
Onward!!!!!!
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Back on the horse
Ok...so I had a bad day on Tuesday....no biggie, right?
One bad day does not a "failure" make...
I decided before going to sleep on Tuesday that I would get back on track on Wednesday, no matter what! So, I planned to wake up early, do some Pilates, get a run in, and eat well.
That was my plan....
I set my alarm for 6:00AM and, as a back up....I set my phone alarm for 6:15 and left it in the kitchen so I'd HAVE to get up to turn it off.
It worked :)
I got up at 6:15 and turned on my Pilates video. My body was not too happy about being up so early and being subjected to the torture that Gazelle was putting me through, but I did it anyway.
The beauty of exercise is, you don't have to enjoy it to reap the benefits! You just have to do it...
At about 6:30, half-way through my workout, Her Royal Highness woke up and came into the living room.
"Oh...I see you are doing THAT again, huh?" she said with her thumb in her mouth
"Yep...gotta get back into it!"
She plopped herself onto the couch and cuddled under her blanket....getting herself nice and comfortable to take in the spectacle.
"That looks hard" she said
WOW!! FINALLY! Some validation...and respect for my pudgy, old body...
"Yeah...it is, kinda" I said
She studied me....then the Gazelle....then me again....
"Her arms are longer than you!" she exclaimed
I chuckled....yes, I've noticed.....
She continued...."She is a lot better than you are"
Validation and respect.....down the toilet....
"Well honey, she's been doing this a lot longer than 2 weeks, like I have been.....and she doesn't have a big belly that gets in way either!"
She shook her head in agreement "No...she doesn't!" She looked at my belly....and was kind enough to stop just before vocalizing what she was thinking: 'Like you do!!'
I finished my Pilates session and felt positive about the day. After dropping the girls off at their schools, I drove to the park and completed a 5 mile barefoot shuffle. It felt amazing!! I noticed two things: first, my negative thoughts didn't show up...not once! In fact, when it came time to turn around (I was only going to go 3 miles), I thought to myself "No! I feel good! Keep going!".....What a difference from just 2 weeks ago! The second thing I noticed is: The hills are not nearly as hard! There was no huffing and puffing like a freight train to get up them.....
There was no creepy face......
Just slow, steady, forward movement....and the slightest increase in heart rate.
It is a miracle!!! I am adapting!! :)
There was another thing I noticed about my shuffle....in that hour, it melted away my stress, my anxiety, my depressed and irritable mood...and brought about a calm, centered feeling that lasted the entire day.
No amount of sugar in the world can make me feel like that....
New goal....make shuffling my new addiction :)
One bad day does not a "failure" make...
I decided before going to sleep on Tuesday that I would get back on track on Wednesday, no matter what! So, I planned to wake up early, do some Pilates, get a run in, and eat well.
That was my plan....
I set my alarm for 6:00AM and, as a back up....I set my phone alarm for 6:15 and left it in the kitchen so I'd HAVE to get up to turn it off.
It worked :)
I got up at 6:15 and turned on my Pilates video. My body was not too happy about being up so early and being subjected to the torture that Gazelle was putting me through, but I did it anyway.
The beauty of exercise is, you don't have to enjoy it to reap the benefits! You just have to do it...
At about 6:30, half-way through my workout, Her Royal Highness woke up and came into the living room.
"Oh...I see you are doing THAT again, huh?" she said with her thumb in her mouth
"Yep...gotta get back into it!"
She plopped herself onto the couch and cuddled under her blanket....getting herself nice and comfortable to take in the spectacle.
"That looks hard" she said
WOW!! FINALLY! Some validation...and respect for my pudgy, old body...
"Yeah...it is, kinda" I said
She studied me....then the Gazelle....then me again....
"Her arms are longer than you!" she exclaimed
I chuckled....yes, I've noticed.....
She continued...."She is a lot better than you are"
Validation and respect.....down the toilet....
"Well honey, she's been doing this a lot longer than 2 weeks, like I have been.....and she doesn't have a big belly that gets in way either!"
She shook her head in agreement "No...she doesn't!" She looked at my belly....and was kind enough to stop just before vocalizing what she was thinking: 'Like you do!!'
I finished my Pilates session and felt positive about the day. After dropping the girls off at their schools, I drove to the park and completed a 5 mile barefoot shuffle. It felt amazing!! I noticed two things: first, my negative thoughts didn't show up...not once! In fact, when it came time to turn around (I was only going to go 3 miles), I thought to myself "No! I feel good! Keep going!".....What a difference from just 2 weeks ago! The second thing I noticed is: The hills are not nearly as hard! There was no huffing and puffing like a freight train to get up them.....
There was no creepy face......
Just slow, steady, forward movement....and the slightest increase in heart rate.
It is a miracle!!! I am adapting!! :)
There was another thing I noticed about my shuffle....in that hour, it melted away my stress, my anxiety, my depressed and irritable mood...and brought about a calm, centered feeling that lasted the entire day.
No amount of sugar in the world can make me feel like that....
New goal....make shuffling my new addiction :)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
After a strong start to my week....yesterday was a
complete...
and total....
FAILURE.
On Saturday I shuffled 6.1 miles...NONSTOP...except for a quick stretch at my 3 mile turn around point. After that shuffle I had some pretty severe pain in my left ankle. I was pretty worried that I may have done some real damage to something (though I didn't feel any pain during my shuffle). So, on Sunday, with my ankle still a little tender I rode my bike at the park for 10 glorious miles. My ankle felt totally normal by Monday so I carved out a 3 mile chunk of the half-marathon route and did a 6 mile out and back shuffle. I ended up walking the final mile of those 6 because it was a 1 mile continual, gradual up-hill...and I was tired...but proud of my accomplishment nonetheless!
In three days....I put 22 miles on these old stumps!!!!
Number of miles I put on them yesterday........zip.....zero.....zilch.....
In fact....I can probably measure the extent of my exercise in feet instead of miles....like 10 or so...
What did I do all day? Well.....I sat....and ate.....
I sat at my computer....working on a school project and obsessing about the Boston Marathon bombings.
And I ate....
a lot.....
of crap.....
No, seriously.....I don't think I took in one healthy molecule of food yesterday
...not one
Here's the run down of the damage:
*12....yes.....TWELVE miniature candy bars from the kids' Easter basket stash
*A chocolate ice cream cone
*2 bags of cookies (in my defense...they were small bags!)
*A large bowl of cheddar popcorn
*6 fish sticks and a large helping of some kind of Lipton noodles
*Half of a very large frosted sugar cookie....which I couldn't finish...because at that point I was physically ill.
I think I actually felt myself get Diabetes yesterday....
Not surprisingly....I felt really, really, REALLY, depressed...angry...irritable....and lazy all day long.
I hate feeling like that!! Yet....I KEEP DOING IT!!
What's up with that? It is so frustrating!
I am addicted to sugar (Ya think?!?!)....so much so that if I take in just one sugary food product I fall apart and go hog wild!!!! (I found out something interesting about this sugar addiction too....for about a week I have been having headaches on and off throughout the day until I go to bed and I couldn't figure out why. Yesterday....after my sugar binge....I had absolutely no headaches whatsoever....hmmmm....).
What really makes me crazy is that I can have 3 amazing days in a row then have one day that just throws it all away.....it literally feels like I go right back to square one.
Is it possible to have a dietary version of Bipolar Disorder?
Even if it isn't.....I think I have it anyway.
complete...
and total....
FAILURE.
On Saturday I shuffled 6.1 miles...NONSTOP...except for a quick stretch at my 3 mile turn around point. After that shuffle I had some pretty severe pain in my left ankle. I was pretty worried that I may have done some real damage to something (though I didn't feel any pain during my shuffle). So, on Sunday, with my ankle still a little tender I rode my bike at the park for 10 glorious miles. My ankle felt totally normal by Monday so I carved out a 3 mile chunk of the half-marathon route and did a 6 mile out and back shuffle. I ended up walking the final mile of those 6 because it was a 1 mile continual, gradual up-hill...and I was tired...but proud of my accomplishment nonetheless!
In three days....I put 22 miles on these old stumps!!!!
Number of miles I put on them yesterday........zip.....zero.....zilch.....
In fact....I can probably measure the extent of my exercise in feet instead of miles....like 10 or so...
What did I do all day? Well.....I sat....and ate.....
I sat at my computer....working on a school project and obsessing about the Boston Marathon bombings.
And I ate....
a lot.....
of crap.....
No, seriously.....I don't think I took in one healthy molecule of food yesterday
...not one
Here's the run down of the damage:
*12....yes.....TWELVE miniature candy bars from the kids' Easter basket stash
*A chocolate ice cream cone
*2 bags of cookies (in my defense...they were small bags!)
*A large bowl of cheddar popcorn
*6 fish sticks and a large helping of some kind of Lipton noodles
*Half of a very large frosted sugar cookie....which I couldn't finish...because at that point I was physically ill.
I think I actually felt myself get Diabetes yesterday....
Not surprisingly....I felt really, really, REALLY, depressed...angry...irritable....and lazy all day long.
I hate feeling like that!! Yet....I KEEP DOING IT!!
What's up with that? It is so frustrating!
I am addicted to sugar (Ya think?!?!)....so much so that if I take in just one sugary food product I fall apart and go hog wild!!!! (I found out something interesting about this sugar addiction too....for about a week I have been having headaches on and off throughout the day until I go to bed and I couldn't figure out why. Yesterday....after my sugar binge....I had absolutely no headaches whatsoever....hmmmm....).
What really makes me crazy is that I can have 3 amazing days in a row then have one day that just throws it all away.....it literally feels like I go right back to square one.
Is it possible to have a dietary version of Bipolar Disorder?
Even if it isn't.....I think I have it anyway.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Scientific data: Week 2 (4/5 - 4/12)
This has been a pretty slow week...
Just like I always do, I tend to get bored of my "lifestyle change" after a strong first week. Usually by week three, I have abandoned all of the good changes I've made and have gone back to my old, unhealthy ways.
So here I am...right in the midst of this critical time frame....
and I'm losing steam....
After a great, strong beginning of this past week (I shuffled 3 days in a row...4 miles each), I have done
absolutely...
nothing.
I set my alarm each morning for 6:00am...then turn it off and go back to sleep. I don't even argue with myself anymore...
yes....I am failing...
These past few days, I have felt completely unmotivated, tired, overwhelmed with school projects that are due soon, and stressed.
So...how have I handled that? I have taken away the ONE thing that ALWAYS makes me feel better...exercise. Make sense to you? Yeah....doesn't make much sense to me either...but that's how I roll!
"Luckily"....my wonderful nephew gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that I still have lots of work to do...
Yesterday, he and I were folding laundry together. As I picked up a pair of my underwear and began to fold it, he looked at them...then me...and asked "Whose are those?"
"They're mine" I replied and picked up another pair to fold
"They look small" he said.
Hmm...small? I thought to myself..."Small" is not a word I would have used for them, but I took what he said as a compliment nonetheless.
As I took the breath to say "Gee...thanks!!" he continued....
"Do those really fit you?" .... he was genuinely perplexed...
I smiled.. "Yep!" I do yoga!! Of course they fit me!!
"Wow" he said.....then thought....then spoke...."They must be really tight on you!!"
I laughed and half ignored the comment....
But, he was not laughing....or even smiling...
He was thinking.
He persisted...."No...really.....aren't they tight on you??"
His genuine curiosity about how those "small" underpants could fit on my fat butt was getting on my nerves.....
Not laughing anymore I said..."Well, I guess they are". And with that, he was satisfied that he'd finally gotten the truth.
New goal: To have him ask me "Aren't those underpants really loose on you?? Do you need a belt to keep those humongous underpants on?? You could fit 3 of you in those things!!!"
Number time:
Beginning weight: 165
Today's weight: 162.4
Number of miles shuffled: 12
Number of times yoga, Pilates, bike: 1 each
Time to get re-motivated!! On to week number 3.....
Just like I always do, I tend to get bored of my "lifestyle change" after a strong first week. Usually by week three, I have abandoned all of the good changes I've made and have gone back to my old, unhealthy ways.
So here I am...right in the midst of this critical time frame....
and I'm losing steam....
After a great, strong beginning of this past week (I shuffled 3 days in a row...4 miles each), I have done
absolutely...
nothing.
I set my alarm each morning for 6:00am...then turn it off and go back to sleep. I don't even argue with myself anymore...
yes....I am failing...
These past few days, I have felt completely unmotivated, tired, overwhelmed with school projects that are due soon, and stressed.
So...how have I handled that? I have taken away the ONE thing that ALWAYS makes me feel better...exercise. Make sense to you? Yeah....doesn't make much sense to me either...but that's how I roll!
"Luckily"....my wonderful nephew gave me a not-so-subtle reminder that I still have lots of work to do...
Yesterday, he and I were folding laundry together. As I picked up a pair of my underwear and began to fold it, he looked at them...then me...and asked "Whose are those?"
"They're mine" I replied and picked up another pair to fold
"They look small" he said.
Hmm...small? I thought to myself..."Small" is not a word I would have used for them, but I took what he said as a compliment nonetheless.
As I took the breath to say "Gee...thanks!!" he continued....
"Do those really fit you?" .... he was genuinely perplexed...
I smiled.. "Yep!" I do yoga!! Of course they fit me!!
"Wow" he said.....then thought....then spoke...."They must be really tight on you!!"
I laughed and half ignored the comment....
But, he was not laughing....or even smiling...
He was thinking.
He persisted...."No...really.....aren't they tight on you??"
His genuine curiosity about how those "small" underpants could fit on my fat butt was getting on my nerves.....
Not laughing anymore I said..."Well, I guess they are". And with that, he was satisfied that he'd finally gotten the truth.
New goal: To have him ask me "Aren't those underpants really loose on you?? Do you need a belt to keep those humongous underpants on?? You could fit 3 of you in those things!!!"
Number time:
Beginning weight: 165
Today's weight: 162.4
Number of miles shuffled: 12
Number of times yoga, Pilates, bike: 1 each
Time to get re-motivated!! On to week number 3.....
Monday, April 8, 2013
Was that just "progress" I experienced??
What a gorgeous day for a shuffle!!
70 degrees...nice breeze....no bulky clothing.....
My shuffle was not fast...but...I think I just had an experience "They" call....
Progress.
Why, perchance, do I make such a claim?
Here's why...
I shuffled for 4.5 miles....and shuffled MOST of the hills....like 80% of them!
And these are not "bunny hills"....not even "rolling hills".
These are
"I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!" hills.....
"THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC!!!" hills....
"RRRIIIIIIICOOOOLLLLAAAAA!!!!!" hills...
I am experiencing a "shuffle-induced" bout of creativity....
My shuffle has inspired a rap:
(Those of you who know the famed "Bobson Rap"...well, you can sing along if you'd like...)
(Cue record scratching) "SHOOKA-SHOOKA-SHOOKA-SHOOKA"
(Cue beat-boxing) "PFF, P-CH...P-P-P-CH"
I KNOW A FLY GIRL HER NAME IS "K"
WORKIN' TOWARD A HALF; SHUFFLE ALL THE WAY!
SHE'S OLD AND SLOW AND KINDA FAT
BUT IN A COUPLE MONTHS SHE BE NONE O' THAT!
Ok...so maybe "creativity" is not an accurate word....perhaps "delirium" would sum it up better...
Anyway...
I'm pretty proud of myself today :)
70 degrees...nice breeze....no bulky clothing.....
My shuffle was not fast...but...I think I just had an experience "They" call....
Progress.
Why, perchance, do I make such a claim?
Here's why...
I shuffled for 4.5 miles....and shuffled MOST of the hills....like 80% of them!
And these are not "bunny hills"....not even "rolling hills".
These are
"I'M KING OF THE WORLD!!" hills.....
"THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC!!!" hills....
"RRRIIIIIIICOOOOLLLLAAAAA!!!!!" hills...
I am experiencing a "shuffle-induced" bout of creativity....
My shuffle has inspired a rap:
(Those of you who know the famed "Bobson Rap"...well, you can sing along if you'd like...)
(Cue record scratching) "SHOOKA-SHOOKA-SHOOKA-SHOOKA"
(Cue beat-boxing) "PFF, P-CH...P-P-P-CH"
I KNOW A FLY GIRL HER NAME IS "K"
WORKIN' TOWARD A HALF; SHUFFLE ALL THE WAY!
SHE'S OLD AND SLOW AND KINDA FAT
BUT IN A COUPLE MONTHS SHE BE NONE O' THAT!
Ok...so maybe "creativity" is not an accurate word....perhaps "delirium" would sum it up better...
Anyway...
I'm pretty proud of myself today :)
Sunday, April 7, 2013
A picture is worth a thousand words....
No need to write much today....
I did Pilates.
Here is my feeble attempt.......
I did Pilates.
Here is my feeble attempt.......
at this......
Enough said.....
Friday, April 5, 2013
Keepin' it real......Scientific data: Week 1
Ok....so as much fun as this has been to entertain the masses with my clumsy attempts at better health, this blog was intended to track my "progress", first and foremost.
And...I cannot properly track my progress without keeping track of the scientific data that will get me into a thong by June......or something.......
So, without further adieu....and a LOT of deliberation about posting these......I give you.....my baseline pictures.....
Well.....kinda......
Minus my face.......
Do I really need to post my double chins? Isn't my gut enough?
I think it's more than enough......
(Please look away if you are squeamish......you've been warned......)
No folks....these have not been Photoshopped or airbrushed....
This is the horror of stuffing a size 14 (16 maybe??) into a size 12....not pretty....and it is all to real.
Some of you may be running from the room, screaming (I really hope you weren't eating when you saw these)
.....and some may be thinking "Well...that's not so bad".
To the latter I say.....this is why I love you and keep you in my life!!
I look at this gut every morning without fail (as I posted in a previous post)...I've watched it grow...and grow....
and grow....
It needs to stop. Not just because of aesthetic reasons, but because I am unhealthy....
I have no scientific data to prove that...but my body would not lie.
My last physical checked out just fine...blood pressure....blood work...all normal....except....
My blood sugar.
During my last blood test to check my Thyroid levels (I am on a small dose of Levothyroxine for hypothyroidism) I noticed that my blood sugar was 54.
The doctor said everything looked good on my results...but this 54 bothered me....
I know that's low.
But more than that....I think that has been my problem for a long time. I ate breakfast before this test...waffles with maple syrup and milk...not an uncommon breakfast for me. About an hour after I ate, my heart started pounding and I felt a little "off"....this had become a customary feeling for me...most mornings, after breakfast, this is how I felt. In order to raise my blood sugar back up to "feeling normal" I'd have to, well, eat some more sugary stuff to get the quick benefits....so was the cycle before seeing the scientific data that what I was likely experiencing was reactive hypoglycemia....a condition where the food I eat causes my blood sugar to spike too high, thus stimulating my pancreas to produce too much insulin; consequently, dropping my blood sugar too low. This spiking and dropping of blood sugar set up a pattern of unhealthy eating for the whole day, as I tried to get myself balanced.
This has been my cycle for a long time....
A cycle that could possibly lead to Type 2 Diabetes if I don't stop it....
My eating is still not perfect, by any means....but I have made one very crucial change....
I added protein and no more "whites" at breakfast. A typical breakfast for me now is: Whole wheat toast (usually with butter), 3 strips of turkey bacon, yogurt, and organic Green Chai Tea with honey. It's much more than I would have eaten, but it doesn't seem to cause the huge spike in blood sugar, and I feel full and satisfied...not craving more sugars to balance myself out.
In fact, I have made it a point to try to take in more protein throughout the whole day...it really seems to help stop the sugar cravings...though, they are not completely gone....
Ok...all that aside....here are some numbers for your reading pleasure:
Starting weight: 165
Current weight: 164.2
Number of miles shuffled: 18 miles (this is slightly high because I am taking into consideration the miles I've shuffled since beginning this blog...a little over a week ago)
Yoga: x2
Pilates: x2
Stationary bike: x2 (Total time: 1 hr)
Days until half-marathon: 71
Number of times vomited.....1
Number of days too sore to laugh...or walk.... A LOT!!
Number of times I was shone-up by my daughter:....at least twice
Number of swear words aimed at The Gazelle or The Ball: Too many to count
Thursday, April 4, 2013
A most unpleasant shuffle
The shuffle I attempted yesterday was barely worth writing about. I attempted to do 3 hilly miles...but it was so flippin'...
COLD!!!!
The wind was brutal!
I was absolutely miserable the whole time.
Shuffling hurt my lungs...breathing such cold air deep into my lungs was literally painful. Half of my body was sweating while the other half felt frost bitten.
I walked a good part of the time...making my 3 mile time 47 minutes....
YIKES!!!
My shuffle didn't even inspire a good, descriptive story...
But it did inspire a creepy picture:
COLD!!!!
The wind was brutal!
I was absolutely miserable the whole time.
Shuffling hurt my lungs...breathing such cold air deep into my lungs was literally painful. Half of my body was sweating while the other half felt frost bitten.
I walked a good part of the time...making my 3 mile time 47 minutes....
YIKES!!!
My shuffle didn't even inspire a good, descriptive story...
But it did inspire a creepy picture:
Remind you of someone???
I don't know which is creepier....my picture or my time!!
If you hear of any alien sightings in this area on the nightly news, don't be alarmed....
It was just me.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Powerhouse....is that you??
This past Saturday, the girls and I returned home from our overnight trip with friends. It was a beautiful, "warm" (50s), sunny afternoon.....
I decided to go for another shuffle. Since it was relatively warm, I was excited to be able to attempt a truly barefoot shuffle this time...my feet have been anxiously awaiting the feeling of the ground beneath them!
I went to the park and decided I was not going to place any goals on this shuffle...I was just going to go as far as was comfortable...and enjoy the beautiful day.
As soon as my bare feet touched the asphalt parking lot, I felt rejuvenated! I stretched, adjusted my headphones and jacket, set my GPS...and began shuffling.
There were many people on the trails. I shuffled along and received the oh-so-familiar strange looks from passers-by. It is always the same look...the realization that I am, indeed, barefoot while shuffling...the nonchalant nudge-then-point to their walking/running partner....then the look up to my face to see if I am, as they might assume, an alien with one eye and three antennas sticking out of my head. If I am able to catch their eye, I typically smile as I pass...often they look away, but sometimes I get stopped and questioned or a smile in return. It is a reaction I am used to....and I really don't mind it.
But on this day....I purposely wore sunglasses and ear buds....so I had the excuse to ignore the gawkers...
The one great thing about running barefoot is that I have to concentrate on every step I take. The most common question I am asked (aside from "Doesn't that hurt?!" ) is...."Aren't you afraid of stepping on a used needle or broken glass?" The short answer is .... "No"....because A) There typically are no hypodermic needles in the street (or broken glass, for that matter) and B)....I simply watch where I am stepping...it's really that simple.
In fact, my biggest fear is stepping in dog poop....
But anyway....
Having to concentrate on where I am stepping doesn't allow me to obsess about how miserable the rest of my body feels....I can fall into a natural breathing pattern and shuffling pace. The feeling of the asphalt on my bare feet is such an all-consuming feeling, that I just can't feel anything else...
It's really quite wonderful!
As I shuffled along, I breathed deeply....the warm air felt wonderful....I felt strong and energized! I could feel the contrast between the cold shade and the warm sun on the asphalt trail and purposely found a few small puddles to splash through...just for fun.
After about a mile or so, I began to feel myself hunching over and slowing down..."Why are you slowing down and slouching?" my mind shouted..."Stand up!! Breathe deep!! Shake out your hands and shoulders....you are not tired!!....No seriously....feel!!! You AREN'T tired!! Isn't it wonderful!?"
I stood up straight and focused on my body...could this be true? Was I actually feeling strong with a mile already behind me?
I listened to my body.....
I WASN'T tired!! It was a miracle!
No.....
I was my powerhouse!! I just know it!! It paid me a visit...and I relished in its presence....
As I approached the turn around point of my out-and-back course, I had just one more obstacle...a hill. "Don't you dare walk this, Karen!" my now-cocky mind ordered...."You are rockin' this shuffle...show us what ya got!!!"....
so...
I...
jogged!
In fact...I may have sprinted? I don't know! It was fast... and unfamiliar. I was a ninja creeping through the darkness...quietly...swiftly...effortlessly...
Then....
it was difficult....my breathing quickened...inhale sharply two steps, exhale forcefully two steps...cheeks puffing and caving with each breath...I'm pretty sure my heart was on the verge of exploding (at least that's what my body tells me)....
"Keep going!! You're almost there!! Don't stop now, ninja!!!"
My face began to strain with each step...baring my teeth like a wild animal...eyes focused on the finish line...I believe I scared a woman who was stretching at the top of the hill as I ran...a barefoot freak...a ninja....huffing wildly by like a freight train...
I imagine looked something like this.....minus the muscles and the gold chain....
I decided to go for another shuffle. Since it was relatively warm, I was excited to be able to attempt a truly barefoot shuffle this time...my feet have been anxiously awaiting the feeling of the ground beneath them!
I went to the park and decided I was not going to place any goals on this shuffle...I was just going to go as far as was comfortable...and enjoy the beautiful day.
As soon as my bare feet touched the asphalt parking lot, I felt rejuvenated! I stretched, adjusted my headphones and jacket, set my GPS...and began shuffling.
There were many people on the trails. I shuffled along and received the oh-so-familiar strange looks from passers-by. It is always the same look...the realization that I am, indeed, barefoot while shuffling...the nonchalant nudge-then-point to their walking/running partner....then the look up to my face to see if I am, as they might assume, an alien with one eye and three antennas sticking out of my head. If I am able to catch their eye, I typically smile as I pass...often they look away, but sometimes I get stopped and questioned or a smile in return. It is a reaction I am used to....and I really don't mind it.
But on this day....I purposely wore sunglasses and ear buds....so I had the excuse to ignore the gawkers...
The one great thing about running barefoot is that I have to concentrate on every step I take. The most common question I am asked (aside from "Doesn't that hurt?!" ) is...."Aren't you afraid of stepping on a used needle or broken glass?" The short answer is .... "No"....because A) There typically are no hypodermic needles in the street (or broken glass, for that matter) and B)....I simply watch where I am stepping...it's really that simple.
In fact, my biggest fear is stepping in dog poop....
But anyway....
Having to concentrate on where I am stepping doesn't allow me to obsess about how miserable the rest of my body feels....I can fall into a natural breathing pattern and shuffling pace. The feeling of the asphalt on my bare feet is such an all-consuming feeling, that I just can't feel anything else...
It's really quite wonderful!
As I shuffled along, I breathed deeply....the warm air felt wonderful....I felt strong and energized! I could feel the contrast between the cold shade and the warm sun on the asphalt trail and purposely found a few small puddles to splash through...just for fun.
After about a mile or so, I began to feel myself hunching over and slowing down..."Why are you slowing down and slouching?" my mind shouted..."Stand up!! Breathe deep!! Shake out your hands and shoulders....you are not tired!!....No seriously....feel!!! You AREN'T tired!! Isn't it wonderful!?"
I stood up straight and focused on my body...could this be true? Was I actually feeling strong with a mile already behind me?
I listened to my body.....
I WASN'T tired!! It was a miracle!
No.....
I was my powerhouse!! I just know it!! It paid me a visit...and I relished in its presence....
As I approached the turn around point of my out-and-back course, I had just one more obstacle...a hill. "Don't you dare walk this, Karen!" my now-cocky mind ordered...."You are rockin' this shuffle...show us what ya got!!!"....
so...
I...
jogged!
In fact...I may have sprinted? I don't know! It was fast... and unfamiliar. I was a ninja creeping through the darkness...quietly...swiftly...effortlessly...
Then....
it was difficult....my breathing quickened...inhale sharply two steps, exhale forcefully two steps...cheeks puffing and caving with each breath...I'm pretty sure my heart was on the verge of exploding (at least that's what my body tells me)....
"Keep going!! You're almost there!! Don't stop now, ninja!!!"
My face began to strain with each step...baring my teeth like a wild animal...eyes focused on the finish line...I believe I scared a woman who was stretching at the top of the hill as I ran...a barefoot freak...a ninja....huffing wildly by like a freight train...
I imagine looked something like this.....minus the muscles and the gold chain....
.....and my name's not Oliver.....but I digress.....
At the top of the hill I stopped....panting....sweating....I checked my GPS to check my data.
2.75 miles.....32 minutes
I smiled...had I gone a full 3 miles at my pace, I would have surely beat my 5k time...
I ran back to the parking lot. I put 5.5 glorious miles on my feet that day...
Thanks to my Powerhouse!!
Day after Easter
I have had an amazing weekend....spent time with friends and my girls Friday and Saturday. Yesterday was Easter...I spent the day with my family, and of course....sat and ate!
Oh man, did I eat!!
And eat...
and....
eat...
So, feeling a bit guilty about the copious amounts of food I inhaled yesterday, I felt the need to start fresh today and get back on the horse, as "They" say.
Reluctantly, I awoke REALLY early today. I decided I'd go for a shuffle before Aaron left for work so he could stay with the girls while I was gone. Just a couple laps on our street, I told myself. Just a couple miles so I don't have to feel so guilty about yesterday's failure.
I dressed in a few layers...it was about 20 some degrees and the sun still had not risen. Aaron was none to happy about my going out in the dark, but I reassured him that I would stay on our road and would bring my headlight and phone. I kissed him goodbye and set out.
It was dark and very quiet...kind of eerie to be out at this hour, but peaceful at the same time. I had never gotten up at 4:30 to shuffle before, but thought to myself 'I could get used to this!' I was still sore from Saturday's shuffle, and still a bit hung over from my food coma from yesterday. It took some time and effort to find my rhythm, but it came eventually. I didn't feel as strong and awake as I did on Saturday, but this was better than nothing! At least I was doing something!!
My goal was 4 laps...3.2 miles, which I completed in.....wait for it....... 36:20!!! I was pretty proud of myself!! I had finally beaten my 5k time!!!
What an amazing start to my day!!! :)
Ok......April Fools!!!!
So......the truth?
Well.....
I woke at 8:40am (only because Kristi had dropped the boys off for Mom to babysit)....I could have easily slept until 10, I am certain my blood sugar was about 600 still, though I have no scientific data to back that.
I had breakfast, then chased that with some leftover buffalo chicken dip and tortilla chips about an hour later....
I stayed in my pajamas until 1:00 then dressed to go to the book store to work on a paper for school.
In essence.....
I sat and ate....
and sat....
and ate....
Just like I am wont to do.....
"They" say old habits die hard...
Truer words have never been spoken.
Yoga...the sequel
This past Friday, my alarm went off at 6:30. I fought with myself for about 10 minutes about whether or not I should get up...eventually...and not so happily...I got up and got moving.
I am waking to greet the sun! I thought sarcastically to myself. Though it was cold this morning, the birds were singing beautifully. It sounded like Spring...and it lifted my spirits. It was going to be an amazing day!!
I decided I'd take another stab at Yoga. I took the DVD out of its case and as I placed it into the DVD player, I instantly got nauseous. Oh no you don't! I thought to myself. You're not getting out of this one that easily! The house was quiet, I had some time to myself before the chaos of the day began...I HAD to do this!
The Gazelle greeted me "Namaste" she bowed...
"Namaste, Gazelle!" I greeted back....
I closed my eyes and began our "Sun salutation" sequence. I felt relaxed and ready to do this. I inhaled deeply, raised my arms and looked to the sun (well....the ceiling actually..) then exhaled and bent forward, lowering my hands to the floor. As I raised and lowered again, I felt relaxed and confident. I was going to rock this!!
With my eyes closed I moved into "Downward dog" and listened to my deep breaths.....deep inhale, cleansing exhale....good bye sleepiness and stress....goodbye.....
"What are you doing?" ..... Her Royal Highness had emerged.
Welcome back, stress....
"Yoga! Remember when you and I did it the other day?"
"Yeah..." she replied as she threw herself onto the couch to be entertained once again by my clumsiness.
"Want to do it with me?" I asked
"No...I'll watch" she stated.....
Oh great.....
I continued to follow The Gazelle's lead...stretching....holding....breathing....
contorting.....
"You don't do it the way she does"
Here she goes....
"I don't?"
"No...she does it better than you do. You aren't doing the same thing she is"
Ok, punk...I thought...
"How about you come down on the floor and do it with me. You can show me how to do it!" I said.
"I'll just do it here" she said. And with that, she looked at the TV and easily got into the pose...while on the couch...the squishy, unstable, couch.
Shouldn't she still be asleep? I wished...
Needless to say, I finished my second round of Yoga without vomiting, but was still shown-up by a four year old.
I'd call that a success.
I am waking to greet the sun! I thought sarcastically to myself. Though it was cold this morning, the birds were singing beautifully. It sounded like Spring...and it lifted my spirits. It was going to be an amazing day!!
I decided I'd take another stab at Yoga. I took the DVD out of its case and as I placed it into the DVD player, I instantly got nauseous. Oh no you don't! I thought to myself. You're not getting out of this one that easily! The house was quiet, I had some time to myself before the chaos of the day began...I HAD to do this!
The Gazelle greeted me "Namaste" she bowed...
"Namaste, Gazelle!" I greeted back....
I closed my eyes and began our "Sun salutation" sequence. I felt relaxed and ready to do this. I inhaled deeply, raised my arms and looked to the sun (well....the ceiling actually..) then exhaled and bent forward, lowering my hands to the floor. As I raised and lowered again, I felt relaxed and confident. I was going to rock this!!
With my eyes closed I moved into "Downward dog" and listened to my deep breaths.....deep inhale, cleansing exhale....good bye sleepiness and stress....goodbye.....
"What are you doing?" ..... Her Royal Highness had emerged.
Welcome back, stress....
"Yoga! Remember when you and I did it the other day?"
"Yeah..." she replied as she threw herself onto the couch to be entertained once again by my clumsiness.
"Want to do it with me?" I asked
"No...I'll watch" she stated.....
Oh great.....
I continued to follow The Gazelle's lead...stretching....holding....breathing....
contorting.....
"You don't do it the way she does"
Here she goes....
"I don't?"
"No...she does it better than you do. You aren't doing the same thing she is"
Ok, punk...I thought...
"How about you come down on the floor and do it with me. You can show me how to do it!" I said.
"I'll just do it here" she said. And with that, she looked at the TV and easily got into the pose...while on the couch...the squishy, unstable, couch.
Shouldn't she still be asleep? I wished...
Needless to say, I finished my second round of Yoga without vomiting, but was still shown-up by a four year old.
I'd call that a success.
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