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.
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