I am proud to say that I, the species of a mix of Tigger due to my energy and Heffalump sadly due to my size ran 10 miles two days ago. I was not crawling at the end, I was not even out of breath! It did take me 2 hours and 15 minutes, sloooooooooooooooooooooooow. But I did it. I am now laughing at myself when I thought running 6 miles was daunting.
I had not run a long run in a few weeks, lack of time and my husbands work schedule coupled with rain for the past several weekends had made it impossible, so I had the opportunity on Friday and I and grabbed it. It was an easy long slow run with gu and my ipod and the ocean views, it was awesome!
I have to say that I never appreciated how beautiful the autumn is until this fall, when I run I have the time to really observe how beautiful nature and where I live is. The gorgeous colors in the trees, the blankets of leaves on the ground, the sounds of the crunching as I run over them, the sun glistening off the ocean; these are the sights I typically drive by not noticing too stressed or rushed on my way to something.
I have also learned that there is a 4 mile mojo affect. The first mile of every run is slow and tough, I am warming up, I am fighting all of the voices telling me I am too busy to run, too tired, too fat, I should be doing laundry, then mile 2 to 3 is usually when things start to hurt. By mile 3 I feel warm and start to relax and get into the music and then magically at mile 4 all is good, the high sets in and I feel like I could run for days and I realize that I love running all over again, it is the magic mojo 4. Anyone else experience this?
I have also come to the realization that while I am pretty uncomplicated in most of my life and low matintenace, I am a running diva. I have to have two sparkling waters and a cup of coffee and two scrambled eggs with cheese before I run, I need my ipod, I need my sneakers tied just so, not too tight not too loose, I need my hydration belt filled with my electrolyte micture, I need my gu, I need to be dressed comfortable enough for the temp, I need my hat or my visor, I need to know my course. I prefer the temp to be between 45 and 75 and I like to run between the hours of 9:30am and 4:30pm, not in the rain or the snow or humidity. I am basically a running pain in the ass. It is like this uptight monster has been released from my running all this for a run, seriously? Yep, I am a running diva and that is raspberry lime sparkling water if you please.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Correction
Just to stay honest, I have modified my swearing off wine policy to one night a week excluding nights my husband works all day and all night and does not come home, just to be honest, amen.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Calendar must be lying
Today I looked at the date and almost died. I usually am oblivious to the date, just following autopilot and living day to day because the days have been so overscheduled and crazy lately. How can it already be the end of October, I should know this since the house has been decorated for Halloween, we went to a fabulous and fun Halloween party last night, the costumes are purchased and we are listening to Halloween music as I right this, but somehow, I always had it in my head that the 1/2 marathon in January would not get scary until November and now November is a week away! Yikes and since the 1/2 is January 9th that means I only have two months left to train, it is essentially crunch time. Time to sink or swim and I plan on becoming an olympic swimmer!
So to recap, I started in April a full fledged heffalump, unhealthy, not exercising, horrible eater, overall 100 pounds overweight and depressed. I decided to start running and change my life and loose weight and get healthy while raising money for breast cancer. It has indeed been a journey, but it is still the beginning. I have lost weight, but still have a lot to lose, I have made incredible progress in my running, but still have a long way to go. I have changed my eating habits, fallen in love with a new sport, become addicted to races, made new friends, met wonderful people along the way and gotten my children, husband and friends involved in my journey.
I have been slowly trying to remove the unhealthy habits piece by piece. First, I started exercising, then I gave up soda, then I gave up fast food, then, I changed the way I approached food, focusing on making small changes. I would use mustard instead of mayonaise for example, I would use light cheese instead of full fat. Now there is only one BIG change I need to make. I am ready to do it, I have to do it, I think this will help me lose the 20 pounds I want to lose by January 9. I am going to mostly cut all alcohol out of my diet. I am going to allow myslef one night for date nights, events ect, but by and by I am going dry. I am considering myself pregnant and this 1/2 marathon and full marathon is my baby.
I hope this will improve my running, my weight loss and my overall health. It will be hard on the stressful days, on the tough days, when a glass of wine seems like the only antidote, but I will find some other reward system for a bad day.
This is a journey and I need to make this happen, for me, for my kids, for my husband, for my future.
If you think you can you will for it's all in the state of mind....
So to recap, I started in April a full fledged heffalump, unhealthy, not exercising, horrible eater, overall 100 pounds overweight and depressed. I decided to start running and change my life and loose weight and get healthy while raising money for breast cancer. It has indeed been a journey, but it is still the beginning. I have lost weight, but still have a lot to lose, I have made incredible progress in my running, but still have a long way to go. I have changed my eating habits, fallen in love with a new sport, become addicted to races, made new friends, met wonderful people along the way and gotten my children, husband and friends involved in my journey.
I have been slowly trying to remove the unhealthy habits piece by piece. First, I started exercising, then I gave up soda, then I gave up fast food, then, I changed the way I approached food, focusing on making small changes. I would use mustard instead of mayonaise for example, I would use light cheese instead of full fat. Now there is only one BIG change I need to make. I am ready to do it, I have to do it, I think this will help me lose the 20 pounds I want to lose by January 9. I am going to mostly cut all alcohol out of my diet. I am going to allow myslef one night for date nights, events ect, but by and by I am going dry. I am considering myself pregnant and this 1/2 marathon and full marathon is my baby.
I hope this will improve my running, my weight loss and my overall health. It will be hard on the stressful days, on the tough days, when a glass of wine seems like the only antidote, but I will find some other reward system for a bad day.
This is a journey and I need to make this happen, for me, for my kids, for my husband, for my future.
If you think you can you will for it's all in the state of mind....
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
6 months in, a lifetime to go
Six months ago, I looked in the mirror and cried. Starting about two months ago I started looking in the mirror and said hey is that a chin I see, hey I am kind of cute! I see myself again. I was never beautiful or gorgeous, I was always the cute spunky athletic one and I liked that, I kind of see myself that way again and it feels good.
I am not sure how much weight I have lost, I do know that I have been walking out of my jeans and yes Nik does get a few kicks out of this. I also know that my XL workout gear has been falling off me. Kind if cool, I am not existing on salads and fruit only, I still eat nachos and burgers and drink, but more in moderation, I just ate two mini twix, it is Halloween season, what do you expect?????
I find myself getting more and more emotional. I hear songs in my ipod while I am running and start crying. This was just so hard to do, it is easy to think it to want it, but it is soooooo hard to make it happen, and I kind of have been making it happen. I could not have done any of this without my amazing husband. Take yesterday, I left him with all four kids in Boston while I went to run the Tufts 10k. He did it with a smile on his face, what a stud right? Yep, he rules!
It was an awesome Autumn day, we took the train before 8am into Boston and then the T, the kids were in train heaven. We surfed the swag, scoped the common and the kids ran the challenging kids 1k race. This is my fave part about my journey, getting my kids addicted to running and races, they are already junkies! They love getting the numbers and the snacks after of course. I am so proud of them!
I always get so nervous before a race and this was insame over 6500 women lining up for this race. Of course sheepishly I go to line up behind the sign 10 plus minutes miles. It was very exciting! I ran the fastest I could possibly run, it was very overwhelming people tripping over each other and so many people everywhere, the course was incredible, running along the charles, down through Charles street, back down Commonwealth, what an incredible 6 mile route, women of all ages, shapes and sizes and abilities.
I ran my fastest pae, 12:36 mile pace, fast for me, incredible because 6 months ago running for 5 minutes was impossible and look at me now!!!
Anything is possible! If I can do it, you can do it, I have never felt more alive than how I feel when I am running. If you believe it, you can do it so get off your ass and go do it and feel free to call me and do it with me! Come running, it is awesome!
I am not sure how much weight I have lost, I do know that I have been walking out of my jeans and yes Nik does get a few kicks out of this. I also know that my XL workout gear has been falling off me. Kind if cool, I am not existing on salads and fruit only, I still eat nachos and burgers and drink, but more in moderation, I just ate two mini twix, it is Halloween season, what do you expect?????
I find myself getting more and more emotional. I hear songs in my ipod while I am running and start crying. This was just so hard to do, it is easy to think it to want it, but it is soooooo hard to make it happen, and I kind of have been making it happen. I could not have done any of this without my amazing husband. Take yesterday, I left him with all four kids in Boston while I went to run the Tufts 10k. He did it with a smile on his face, what a stud right? Yep, he rules!
It was an awesome Autumn day, we took the train before 8am into Boston and then the T, the kids were in train heaven. We surfed the swag, scoped the common and the kids ran the challenging kids 1k race. This is my fave part about my journey, getting my kids addicted to running and races, they are already junkies! They love getting the numbers and the snacks after of course. I am so proud of them!
I always get so nervous before a race and this was insame over 6500 women lining up for this race. Of course sheepishly I go to line up behind the sign 10 plus minutes miles. It was very exciting! I ran the fastest I could possibly run, it was very overwhelming people tripping over each other and so many people everywhere, the course was incredible, running along the charles, down through Charles street, back down Commonwealth, what an incredible 6 mile route, women of all ages, shapes and sizes and abilities.
I ran my fastest pae, 12:36 mile pace, fast for me, incredible because 6 months ago running for 5 minutes was impossible and look at me now!!!
Anything is possible! If I can do it, you can do it, I have never felt more alive than how I feel when I am running. If you believe it, you can do it so get off your ass and go do it and feel free to call me and do it with me! Come running, it is awesome!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Updates
Well, it has been a month since I posted, but don't think I have not been training, because I have! I am actually up to 9 miles on my long runs, yes 9 miles!!!!! It took me 2.5 hours, but I did it!
September was tough though due to the hectic pace of back to school life and getting the kids adjusted into their activities and the fact that I am coaching field hockey in addition to my gig as a travel agent and mom to four and on the PTO, so it has been crazy.
No cross training this month, something I hope to improve in October. I have been averaging only 2-3 runs a week, I need to average a solid 3 from now on. I typically run 1-2 5 miles courses and try to do a tempo run where I run as fast as I can and then run a more average pace for some, but my course has lot of hills. I have noticed that after these runs, my shins act up a bit which I imagine is due to the pounding when I run faster.
Weight loss is slow, but still happening and that makes me happy. Dropped out of weight watchers, because I feel empowered now that I know how to mke the right choices and I can weigh myself. Not that I do it very often!
I love running! I love seeing my body change. I love the feeling of accomplishment I have at the end of a long run.
I love it so much that I just joined the Tufts Marathon Challenge. www.tuftsmarathonchallenge.com If all goes well, maybe I can run the Boston Marathon.
It is frustrating when it rains like today and I have days when I don't want to run, but I still go, except not in the rain, too scared of getting injured.
My biggest fears are of the sweep bus. I have to improve my pace and only have three months to do it.
3 months!!!! I am scared.
September was tough though due to the hectic pace of back to school life and getting the kids adjusted into their activities and the fact that I am coaching field hockey in addition to my gig as a travel agent and mom to four and on the PTO, so it has been crazy.
No cross training this month, something I hope to improve in October. I have been averaging only 2-3 runs a week, I need to average a solid 3 from now on. I typically run 1-2 5 miles courses and try to do a tempo run where I run as fast as I can and then run a more average pace for some, but my course has lot of hills. I have noticed that after these runs, my shins act up a bit which I imagine is due to the pounding when I run faster.
Weight loss is slow, but still happening and that makes me happy. Dropped out of weight watchers, because I feel empowered now that I know how to mke the right choices and I can weigh myself. Not that I do it very often!
I love running! I love seeing my body change. I love the feeling of accomplishment I have at the end of a long run.
I love it so much that I just joined the Tufts Marathon Challenge. www.tuftsmarathonchallenge.com If all goes well, maybe I can run the Boston Marathon.
It is frustrating when it rains like today and I have days when I don't want to run, but I still go, except not in the rain, too scared of getting injured.
My biggest fears are of the sweep bus. I have to improve my pace and only have three months to do it.
3 months!!!! I am scared.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
And the Clock Ticks
Sorry I have been neglecting my blog lately, just enjoying the final days of summer. So some random things I have learned about running and me as a runner from my perspective.
1. I hope I never have to run on a treadmill again, I feel like it is not running and it is impossible to get that feeling of spiritual freedom and release you can achieve when outside from running on a treadmill.
2. Running as a sport is way more complicated than Field Hockey.
3. Having an ample chest easily should grant you a 3 minute per mile handicap in races,
4. Running alone does not make you lose weight, in fact, it makes you hungrier.
5. My legs are starting to get scary with the muscles that are appearing.
6. I am not an early morning runner, I am more of a 9am runner or a 5pm runner.
7. I subscribed to my first running magazine!
8. I now fully understand hydration and look like a complete goober when I run with my hydration belt filled with GNU water bottles.
9. I know I need to start strength training and core training, that is my next mystery to challenge.
10. I am up to 7.3 miles on my long run and ran for 2 hours straight last week.
11. I am terrified by my slow pace. I am not getting faster yet and it scares me.
12. Sometimes a run still really hurts and is mentally tough as well as physically tough.
13. This is a sport I would like to continue for the rest of my life.
14. I think it is amusing when so may people tell me they can never run long distances,, but yet have never tried and are way more fit than me and a million pounds lighter.
15. Everyone can run if you just get out there and do it and believe you can.
16. If you don't think you can do it, you won't, if you believe you can, you will!
Some random thoughts above. I have been having fun with training, dealing with a lot of anxiety of will I be ready can I do this now that the main event is only four months away. I know when the cold weather sets in I am going to have to purchase and learn about running with a whole new set of gear.
My plan now that school is coming next week is to run between 3 and 5 miles Monday and Wednesday, do a long run Friday am. Cross train and strength train Tuesday and Thursday and look for fun races on the weekends. I am hoping I can drop another 30 pounds in the next four months.
I need to turn on the juice when it comes to fundraising. Hopefully people will realize that this is the real deal now and I am really going to run 13 miles in Disney with the hope of raising a couple of thousands of dollars to fight breast cancer. The plane tickets have been purchased, my body is in training, this is plan in motion.
Come run with me! Honk at me if you see me running come to my party at flynnies in early November, buy a raffle ticket for the raffle I am going to have, mostly, please support me in my quest to fight cancer!
1. I hope I never have to run on a treadmill again, I feel like it is not running and it is impossible to get that feeling of spiritual freedom and release you can achieve when outside from running on a treadmill.
2. Running as a sport is way more complicated than Field Hockey.
3. Having an ample chest easily should grant you a 3 minute per mile handicap in races,
4. Running alone does not make you lose weight, in fact, it makes you hungrier.
5. My legs are starting to get scary with the muscles that are appearing.
6. I am not an early morning runner, I am more of a 9am runner or a 5pm runner.
7. I subscribed to my first running magazine!
8. I now fully understand hydration and look like a complete goober when I run with my hydration belt filled with GNU water bottles.
9. I know I need to start strength training and core training, that is my next mystery to challenge.
10. I am up to 7.3 miles on my long run and ran for 2 hours straight last week.
11. I am terrified by my slow pace. I am not getting faster yet and it scares me.
12. Sometimes a run still really hurts and is mentally tough as well as physically tough.
13. This is a sport I would like to continue for the rest of my life.
14. I think it is amusing when so may people tell me they can never run long distances,, but yet have never tried and are way more fit than me and a million pounds lighter.
15. Everyone can run if you just get out there and do it and believe you can.
16. If you don't think you can do it, you won't, if you believe you can, you will!
Some random thoughts above. I have been having fun with training, dealing with a lot of anxiety of will I be ready can I do this now that the main event is only four months away. I know when the cold weather sets in I am going to have to purchase and learn about running with a whole new set of gear.
My plan now that school is coming next week is to run between 3 and 5 miles Monday and Wednesday, do a long run Friday am. Cross train and strength train Tuesday and Thursday and look for fun races on the weekends. I am hoping I can drop another 30 pounds in the next four months.
I need to turn on the juice when it comes to fundraising. Hopefully people will realize that this is the real deal now and I am really going to run 13 miles in Disney with the hope of raising a couple of thousands of dollars to fight breast cancer. The plane tickets have been purchased, my body is in training, this is plan in motion.
Come run with me! Honk at me if you see me running come to my party at flynnies in early November, buy a raffle ticket for the raffle I am going to have, mostly, please support me in my quest to fight cancer!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
A week of Ups and Downs
Downs
-Failed to accomplish my first Long 6 mile run last Saturday.
-Was alone most of the week since my husband worked a gazillion hours an went away all last Sunday leaving me little time to run when scheduled to run.
-Had horrific pain in my right shin develop causing me to fear I had a stress fracture.
-Found out the inserts I had gotten from ALIGN were too hard and most likely causing my second round of shin splints.
Ups
-Learned from my mistakes from my failed long run.
-Bought two different hydration system, a hand held bottle and a belt and poweraid and GNU.
-Got myself a running buddy!
-Had x-rays done which were normal and saw an orthopod who said my exam seemed inconsistent with fractures and consistent with shin splints, told me to keep running and start taking Advil 3x 3 a day. That's a lot of advil!
-Got myself some new softer inserts.
Really Upity Ups
-Ran my fastest 5K yet in 38:18 at a 12:22 pace!
-Shins felt good afterward!
-Ran 6.2 miles Saturday AM and it felt awesome!
-Failed to accomplish my first Long 6 mile run last Saturday.
-Was alone most of the week since my husband worked a gazillion hours an went away all last Sunday leaving me little time to run when scheduled to run.
-Had horrific pain in my right shin develop causing me to fear I had a stress fracture.
-Found out the inserts I had gotten from ALIGN were too hard and most likely causing my second round of shin splints.
Ups
-Learned from my mistakes from my failed long run.
-Bought two different hydration system, a hand held bottle and a belt and poweraid and GNU.
-Got myself a running buddy!
-Had x-rays done which were normal and saw an orthopod who said my exam seemed inconsistent with fractures and consistent with shin splints, told me to keep running and start taking Advil 3x 3 a day. That's a lot of advil!
-Got myself some new softer inserts.
Really Upity Ups
-Ran my fastest 5K yet in 38:18 at a 12:22 pace!
-Shins felt good afterward!
-Ran 6.2 miles Saturday AM and it felt awesome!
Accomplishing those 6.2 miles felt amazing, I really believe I can do this!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Live and Learn
So,all week long I have been freaked out knowing Saturday would be my first long run or 6 miles, or was supposed to be. I had two good 3 mile range runs Tuesday and Thursday and had run 3 miles or so last Saturday so I was back on track. Shins have there moments on and off but overall healthy. I was nervous and tense, well freaked out about this impending 6 mile run all day Friday.
I mapped out a gorgeous flat course along the ocean and started mentally preparing myself. Whay am I so freaked out? I ran a 5 mile race and did it, 6 can't be much worse. Something in my head was causing me to have a mental block. A bock that was filling me with anxiety and dread.
I awoke Saturday morning and started freaking out about hydration. I had been learning all week long from fellow all ears team members about hydration strategies and replacing electrolytes and how important this is. So, I was drinking water and coffee, Saturday morning which then resulted in bathroom trips and then I was full so I did not eat anything, I was nervous and could not get my sneakers tied just the right way. I was feeling pressure and the "I can't do this" voice was having a party in my brain. Stupidly, I did not head out until 9ish. It was a warm beach day and was 80ish. I did not bring any water never mind electrolyte water, nor money. DADADADUM< the death noise, I killed my run with that step.
I started out with the usual first 10 minutes hard, sneakers, needed to be adjusted, shins sore, sports bra tugging, but after 20 minutes settled into a groove, I was running super slow on purpose to conserve energy, I was just about mile 3 the turn around point at the end of Nahant beach when it hit me. The nauseating feeling of heat exhaustion, face burning, stomach upset, feeling like I might pass out, I weighed continuing, but without water, was afraid of really hurting myself.
I have been spoiled by the races with water stops along the way and hoses. I admitted defeat and the frustrating part was that I knew I could do it, make it the whole way, had I had water.
After walking the last 3 miles, trying not to feel too defeated, but I did, I went to the running store and bought myself a hydration belt. I also bought the lemon lime flavor GU20 electrolyte powder mix and some GU energy gels.
Of course, I was painfully reminded that I am still a Heffalump after three months of hard work when the first two hydration belts would not fit around my waist, as if my self esteem had not already taken a hard enough hit today with my failed run.
Anyhow, the 6 mile run is rescheduled for Tuesday, Monday I am going to try a timed mile. Still need to get a Garmin, not sure if I should splurge on the heart monitor with it or not, can't imagine wearing the chest strap to be honest and the hydration belt and the Garmin while running.
Overall, I am in a bit of a slump I would say, too many long exhausting days alone with the kids. I have gained a couple of pounds which is annoying due to the numerous nights out and weddings and such we have been doing. I need to get this 6 mile run out of the way Tuesday and hopefully that will get me more confidence.
I mapped out a gorgeous flat course along the ocean and started mentally preparing myself. Whay am I so freaked out? I ran a 5 mile race and did it, 6 can't be much worse. Something in my head was causing me to have a mental block. A bock that was filling me with anxiety and dread.
I awoke Saturday morning and started freaking out about hydration. I had been learning all week long from fellow all ears team members about hydration strategies and replacing electrolytes and how important this is. So, I was drinking water and coffee, Saturday morning which then resulted in bathroom trips and then I was full so I did not eat anything, I was nervous and could not get my sneakers tied just the right way. I was feeling pressure and the "I can't do this" voice was having a party in my brain. Stupidly, I did not head out until 9ish. It was a warm beach day and was 80ish. I did not bring any water never mind electrolyte water, nor money. DADADADUM< the death noise, I killed my run with that step.
I started out with the usual first 10 minutes hard, sneakers, needed to be adjusted, shins sore, sports bra tugging, but after 20 minutes settled into a groove, I was running super slow on purpose to conserve energy, I was just about mile 3 the turn around point at the end of Nahant beach when it hit me. The nauseating feeling of heat exhaustion, face burning, stomach upset, feeling like I might pass out, I weighed continuing, but without water, was afraid of really hurting myself.
I have been spoiled by the races with water stops along the way and hoses. I admitted defeat and the frustrating part was that I knew I could do it, make it the whole way, had I had water.
After walking the last 3 miles, trying not to feel too defeated, but I did, I went to the running store and bought myself a hydration belt. I also bought the lemon lime flavor GU20 electrolyte powder mix and some GU energy gels.
Of course, I was painfully reminded that I am still a Heffalump after three months of hard work when the first two hydration belts would not fit around my waist, as if my self esteem had not already taken a hard enough hit today with my failed run.
Anyhow, the 6 mile run is rescheduled for Tuesday, Monday I am going to try a timed mile. Still need to get a Garmin, not sure if I should splurge on the heart monitor with it or not, can't imagine wearing the chest strap to be honest and the hydration belt and the Garmin while running.
Overall, I am in a bit of a slump I would say, too many long exhausting days alone with the kids. I have gained a couple of pounds which is annoying due to the numerous nights out and weddings and such we have been doing. I need to get this 6 mile run out of the way Tuesday and hopefully that will get me more confidence.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Science of it all.
I have to be honest. When I embarked on the running quest mid-April, I thought this will be simple and straightforward. I watch what I eat, I log the training runs and I show up on 1/2 marathon day 100 pounds lighter and an Olympian runner who would run 7 minute miles without breaking a sweat. How hard can running be, no equiptment needed, no experience or gym membership required, just slap on those running shoes and go.
BOY WAS I Mistaken!
Running is an extremely complex sport. I feel like I am learning a new language or getting another degree. And it is not inexpensive either!! I had to learn about running sneakers, then I had to learn about inserts, then proper clothes, then the science of hydration and electrolites, how not to injure myself, nutrition, training schedules, training methods, training races, heart rate monitors, ipods, phew, my head is spinning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is fun to get engrossed in this new world though. There is a huge community of runners out there and they are not all the fastest and the fitest. There are plenty of people like me I am discovering.
I ran a 5K in Newburyport last night in 90 degree heat and humidity and it was hard, ok it was hell. Afterward I had serious leg cramping for the first time and today I am destroyed. I should have been drinking electrolytes so now I need to find a hydration system $$$$. I need to get a heart rate monitor $$$. I stuck with it though and finished despite wanting to quit.
I am still at a standstill with my pace. Still stuck in the 13 minute mile pace. Now I have to start researching how to improve that.
I have my first long 6 mile run I need to push through this weekend, wish me luck!
Also, random question why do the course designers need to always put a large hill at the end of a 5K. Do they think we enjoy that? I certainly do not, rolling hills are fine, but a 1/4 mile long steep hill at the end of the course just takes all of the fun out of the race.
BOY WAS I Mistaken!
Running is an extremely complex sport. I feel like I am learning a new language or getting another degree. And it is not inexpensive either!! I had to learn about running sneakers, then I had to learn about inserts, then proper clothes, then the science of hydration and electrolites, how not to injure myself, nutrition, training schedules, training methods, training races, heart rate monitors, ipods, phew, my head is spinning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is fun to get engrossed in this new world though. There is a huge community of runners out there and they are not all the fastest and the fitest. There are plenty of people like me I am discovering.
I ran a 5K in Newburyport last night in 90 degree heat and humidity and it was hard, ok it was hell. Afterward I had serious leg cramping for the first time and today I am destroyed. I should have been drinking electrolytes so now I need to find a hydration system $$$$. I need to get a heart rate monitor $$$. I stuck with it though and finished despite wanting to quit.
I am still at a standstill with my pace. Still stuck in the 13 minute mile pace. Now I have to start researching how to improve that.
I have my first long 6 mile run I need to push through this weekend, wish me luck!
Also, random question why do the course designers need to always put a large hill at the end of a 5K. Do they think we enjoy that? I certainly do not, rolling hills are fine, but a 1/4 mile long steep hill at the end of the course just takes all of the fun out of the race.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
I may be crazy, but I know I am commited
So this is how my evening went:
Last night I registered for this 5 mile race in Boston. I was drawn by the charity of the event and the gorgeous, FLAT OCEAN course, there are few flat courses in NE, so I jumped on this!!!
I asked my husband who can never dictate the time he is home to request to be let out early. He did. At 3pm I started the panicked pages, are you done, when will you be done??? No good responses.
At 3:40 desperately page babysitter, can you come? Yes she could.
At 5:20 to Husband when will you be home? No answer.
At 5:21 Leave four kids with babysitter off racing into Boston at rush hour traffic.
RACE STARTS AT 6:30
Immediately I realize I have to Pee, not good.
6:00 enter 93 South tunnel in Boston, stopped in deadlocked traffic.
STILL HAVE TO PEE.
6:15 make the exit and take the wrong *&%(*^(*)*&)&( turn
6:25 at traffic light waiting to take the right turn.
6:26 take the right turn and park.
6:26 sprinting across busy road to get my number wiping away tears of frustration.
6:27 grab my number and run to potty.
6:29 sprinting to start line
6:30 the race starts with me there still wiping away tears.
Am I nuts??? Or just really getting into this, not many people would drive into the heart of the storm, BOSTON Rush hour traffic to go run 5 miles. SO I must either A. be nuts or B. Be really commited and getting into this.
I choose B. I finished the race in 1 hour and 9 minutes and discovered the challenge of running into a headwind for 2.5 miles.
I discovered another thing. I like races. Why you might ask ok, well picture yourself on an average training day. You know you have to run lets say five miles today. You head out alone and start the battle of the run alone, work through the pain alone, maybe you have water, maybe you don't, you might want to stop after a few miles, but that is you alone deciding that.
Ok, now let's compare that experience to a race. You have to pay a small fee to enter, but hey you have been meaning to make a charitable donation right? You get a cool number and instead of running alone are surrounded by other people who also are doing the same thing, you are not alone. If they can do it you can too!! You have people cheering you on along your run, clapping for you, applauding you, when you are thirsty there are people handing you water. You get scared, there are police there to protect you. You are worried about that strange ache in your knee, there is a first aid person at the end of your run waiting to take care of you. And congrats for doing your training here is a nice t shirt for your hard work and some yummy fruit and water and snacks.
HMMMM train alone or do a race you decide which experience is more motivating for you???
I know what I like now, I have become a spoiled runner in training and I like it!!!!!
10K 's here I come!!!!!!
Last night I registered for this 5 mile race in Boston. I was drawn by the charity of the event and the gorgeous, FLAT OCEAN course, there are few flat courses in NE, so I jumped on this!!!
I asked my husband who can never dictate the time he is home to request to be let out early. He did. At 3pm I started the panicked pages, are you done, when will you be done??? No good responses.
At 3:40 desperately page babysitter, can you come? Yes she could.
At 5:20 to Husband when will you be home? No answer.
At 5:21 Leave four kids with babysitter off racing into Boston at rush hour traffic.
RACE STARTS AT 6:30
Immediately I realize I have to Pee, not good.
6:00 enter 93 South tunnel in Boston, stopped in deadlocked traffic.
STILL HAVE TO PEE.
6:15 make the exit and take the wrong *&%(*^(*)*&)&( turn
6:25 at traffic light waiting to take the right turn.
6:26 take the right turn and park.
6:26 sprinting across busy road to get my number wiping away tears of frustration.
6:27 grab my number and run to potty.
6:29 sprinting to start line
6:30 the race starts with me there still wiping away tears.
Am I nuts??? Or just really getting into this, not many people would drive into the heart of the storm, BOSTON Rush hour traffic to go run 5 miles. SO I must either A. be nuts or B. Be really commited and getting into this.
I choose B. I finished the race in 1 hour and 9 minutes and discovered the challenge of running into a headwind for 2.5 miles.
I discovered another thing. I like races. Why you might ask ok, well picture yourself on an average training day. You know you have to run lets say five miles today. You head out alone and start the battle of the run alone, work through the pain alone, maybe you have water, maybe you don't, you might want to stop after a few miles, but that is you alone deciding that.
Ok, now let's compare that experience to a race. You have to pay a small fee to enter, but hey you have been meaning to make a charitable donation right? You get a cool number and instead of running alone are surrounded by other people who also are doing the same thing, you are not alone. If they can do it you can too!! You have people cheering you on along your run, clapping for you, applauding you, when you are thirsty there are people handing you water. You get scared, there are police there to protect you. You are worried about that strange ache in your knee, there is a first aid person at the end of your run waiting to take care of you. And congrats for doing your training here is a nice t shirt for your hard work and some yummy fruit and water and snacks.
HMMMM train alone or do a race you decide which experience is more motivating for you???
I know what I like now, I have become a spoiled runner in training and I like it!!!!!
10K 's here I come!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Diet, Increasing Mileage and more family adventures
The idea of running 13 miles when it was 8 months away seemed completely reasonable. The idea of running 13 miles now that it is just 6 months a way is starting to feel a bit scary and challenging.
I have been working hard at taking weight off slowly while revolutionizing my lifestyle and diet habits. It is going very well! It is now becoming a habit and normal to make the sensible choices and don't get me wrong I still eat all the "bad" foods and eat what I want, just in smaller portions. I don't do the "oh well, I cheated now I can eat the whole pizza and whole cake that leftover bag of chips and a bottle of wine. Now if I want cake I have one bite, if I want chips, I have a small handful, If I want a cheeseburger,I have one without the bun. The weight is slowly coming off just like it slowly went on.
On the running front, I know I have to increase my mileage slowly and have been trying to get in three runs a week and two swims and the other days I want to strength train or bike. I once again have found that increasing my mileage like so many other aspects of running is about training my body yes, but that comes naturally if I do the three runs a week. It is in fact more of a mental war against myself and the I can't do its. I find myself constantly making these crazy statements to myslef and then having to prove myself wrong. For example, I have to run first thing in the morning, because I am too tired at the end of the day. Well, no, I am mentally tired, but my body can do it, so I give myself the choice, if I can't wake up it means I am running later in the day. I just go and do it.
I have also found myself saying I can't run that much it is too far or I can't run a hilly course, I just can't. Well, last weekend I ran my first 4 mile race and this past weeeknd I ran my first 4.8 mile race with hills! I did it, I finished dead last, with grandpa passing me in the final stretch, but I finished, check me out, dead last:
I have been working hard at taking weight off slowly while revolutionizing my lifestyle and diet habits. It is going very well! It is now becoming a habit and normal to make the sensible choices and don't get me wrong I still eat all the "bad" foods and eat what I want, just in smaller portions. I don't do the "oh well, I cheated now I can eat the whole pizza and whole cake that leftover bag of chips and a bottle of wine. Now if I want cake I have one bite, if I want chips, I have a small handful, If I want a cheeseburger,I have one without the bun. The weight is slowly coming off just like it slowly went on.
On the running front, I know I have to increase my mileage slowly and have been trying to get in three runs a week and two swims and the other days I want to strength train or bike. I once again have found that increasing my mileage like so many other aspects of running is about training my body yes, but that comes naturally if I do the three runs a week. It is in fact more of a mental war against myself and the I can't do its. I find myself constantly making these crazy statements to myslef and then having to prove myself wrong. For example, I have to run first thing in the morning, because I am too tired at the end of the day. Well, no, I am mentally tired, but my body can do it, so I give myself the choice, if I can't wake up it means I am running later in the day. I just go and do it.
I have also found myself saying I can't run that much it is too far or I can't run a hilly course, I just can't. Well, last weekend I ran my first 4 mile race and this past weeeknd I ran my first 4.8 mile race with hills! I did it, I finished dead last, with grandpa passing me in the final stretch, but I finished, check me out, dead last:
452 60/60 F4049 Janet Sweeney 46 F North Falmouth, MA 1:04:27 13:24
453 40/41 F3039 Sara Coady Howe 30 F Milford, MA 1:04:27 13:24
454 76/76 M4049 Bill Connell 41 M Falmouth, MA 1:04:52 13:30
455 15/17 M6069 Harvey Ko 65 M Elliott, MD 1:05:27 13:37
456 16/17 M6069 Chris Polloni 66 M N. Falmouth, MA 1:05:27 13:37
457 17/17 M6069 Rob Grey 65 M Cambridge, MA 1:06:43 13:53
458 41/41 F3039 Amanda Gonzales 36 F Marblehead, MA 1:08:00 14:09
Ok, I lied three grandpas edged me out, sigh. That's ok, grandpa,
I will take that
one for the grandpa team.
I have been following the Jeff Galloway book and according
to the plan, I have to
increase my mileage every weekend. I have found that
if I find a race to do that
helps me
increase and build in a family adventure, it helps
me to accomplish this
daunting task.
Fellow teammates and new friends Caliin and Josh
invited me to do the Falmouth race and
I could not decide until 9:30pm the night before,
I was terrified. How can a big old
Heffalump run 4.8 miles??? I felt like I was doing
a trust fall blindly when I said ok
let's do it. Luckily I am blessed to have a wonderful
husband and family who like me love
to take on adventures and travel in a heartbeats decision.
So, at 6:30 am we were off driving to
Falmouth.
The race was amazing, so may supporters and families
were out on the road cheering the
runners on, handing out water, spraying us with hoses,
it was amazing and I did it.
Afterwards we spent the most incredible and relaxing day
with Caliin and Josh and
their beautiful family at the beach. What an amazing
adventure! It never would have
happened if I had not embarked on this journey. Thanks
Caliin and Josh for a fantastic
and inspirational day!
I am now searching for new family adventures wrapped
around a race with increasing
mileage for the weekends. I think this weekend will
be a journey to RI to visit
my old stomping grounds in Narraganset after a race.
Nik is usually more agreeable if the
their is lobster and beer at the end of the adventure for him.
Duh, of course for all of you who know me well and are
wondering of course i am trying to
make a race happen in Disney on a weekend before January.
So come run with me, if I can do it, you can do it!!!
It's all in the state of mind!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Insecurity and humiiation
Ok, so I like doing races. They are a challenge, an excitement. It is fun to scope out a race on cool runnings and make it happen. I have to say though once I get there I am a ball of nerves and insecurity.
I AM THE FAT CHICK!!!!!
Everyone there is sculpted and formed, muscles ripling, doing funky warm ups and exercises and then there is me, the Heffalump eating hay before the race. People look at me and quickly look away avoiding eye contact.
I know that once the race starts I will be the last one.
As hard as it is for me to swallow it is ok because I am the last one running the race, not the last one thinking about it or almost signing up for it, but I am doing it.
Ok, I sound brave, but really I am ashamed, embaresed and humiliated. I use those feelings though to go on.
Today was tough, I was of course the last one, all alone, but I did it. I ran a four mile race today. I DID IT! Alone, but I did it. It hurt, but I did it. I was slow, but I did it.
I feel good, still insecure, but proud. I am on my way. Three races under my belt, and I am enjoying them.
It is still not getting easier but that has to change at some point.
Come on everyone come run with me, if I can do it anyone can!!!
Success depends on a fellows will for its all in the state of mind......
I AM THE FAT CHICK!!!!!
Everyone there is sculpted and formed, muscles ripling, doing funky warm ups and exercises and then there is me, the Heffalump eating hay before the race. People look at me and quickly look away avoiding eye contact.
I know that once the race starts I will be the last one.
As hard as it is for me to swallow it is ok because I am the last one running the race, not the last one thinking about it or almost signing up for it, but I am doing it.
Ok, I sound brave, but really I am ashamed, embaresed and humiliated. I use those feelings though to go on.
Today was tough, I was of course the last one, all alone, but I did it. I ran a four mile race today. I DID IT! Alone, but I did it. It hurt, but I did it. I was slow, but I did it.
I feel good, still insecure, but proud. I am on my way. Three races under my belt, and I am enjoying them.
It is still not getting easier but that has to change at some point.
Come on everyone come run with me, if I can do it anyone can!!!
Success depends on a fellows will for its all in the state of mind......
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Oh the Places You'll Go
It is funny because I always thought of this as my personal journey, but it is actually my families journey as well. My son is now getting into running and wants to run with me. I did my second 5K this weekend in Ipswich at this beautiful farm called Appleton Farms. It was a gorgeous day!
The course wound through a path in the farm by orchards, cows and horses.
It was a tough race for me due to many hills and the heat. I did it though and it felt great. Afterwards, Gabe ran in his first race. A 1/4 mile kids race where he came in fourth and won a medal. Did I win a medal? No. Anyway, I never thought that I would insprie him to run and race, but now he has picked up this interest. Ironic, while I have been spending hundreds of dollars the past several years, having him try karate classes, and swimming and soccer and on and on and he loves running!
Afterwards we enjoyed a beautiful farm in Ipswich and went strawberry picking and had a delicious lobster dinner. Would we have gone to Ipswich or this farm had I not done this race? Probably not. Running and this journey is starting to take my family to some amazing places. It is exciting and adventurous for all of us.
We went away on Sunday so no workouts this week. I am supposed to have running class tonight, but I am hearing the rumbling of thunder so not sure if that will happen. I am hoping to do a track workout with the North Shore Striders a running group I have joined tomorrow night. Every Thursday they do a track workout with a coach and a long run on Sundays.
I am also hoping to do a 4 mile race in Swampscott on Saturday.
I need to purchase a garmin if you see any good sales, let me know.
The weather has been making running tough, it rains every day.
That is my update for now. I am still doing weight watchers as well.
The course wound through a path in the farm by orchards, cows and horses.
It was a tough race for me due to many hills and the heat. I did it though and it felt great. Afterwards, Gabe ran in his first race. A 1/4 mile kids race where he came in fourth and won a medal. Did I win a medal? No. Anyway, I never thought that I would insprie him to run and race, but now he has picked up this interest. Ironic, while I have been spending hundreds of dollars the past several years, having him try karate classes, and swimming and soccer and on and on and he loves running!
Afterwards we enjoyed a beautiful farm in Ipswich and went strawberry picking and had a delicious lobster dinner. Would we have gone to Ipswich or this farm had I not done this race? Probably not. Running and this journey is starting to take my family to some amazing places. It is exciting and adventurous for all of us.
We went away on Sunday so no workouts this week. I am supposed to have running class tonight, but I am hearing the rumbling of thunder so not sure if that will happen. I am hoping to do a track workout with the North Shore Striders a running group I have joined tomorrow night. Every Thursday they do a track workout with a coach and a long run on Sundays.
I am also hoping to do a 4 mile race in Swampscott on Saturday.
I need to purchase a garmin if you see any good sales, let me know.
The weather has been making running tough, it rains every day.
That is my update for now. I am still doing weight watchers as well.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
I Did It! My first 5K.
I was so nervous yesterday, I mean nervous. This was it. This was real. I was going to put myself out there as a registered runner, knowing that most 60 year old runners would be faster than me. Knowing that most runners would be thinner than me. In better shape than me. However, I did not think many would be more motivated than me. I packed my family in the car and headed out on a beautiful evening up to a gorgeous park in Beverly. I am so happy we discovered this park, right on the water with a walkway around Beverly waters, an amazing playground, beach, beach volleyball, wide open fields and an ice cream shop. We wil go back. The kids were happy playing while I went to register.
I must have looked clueless and like I might vomit because a kind organizer asked me if this was my first race. I told her it was and she was supportive and made me relax a bit. She even came over to me later and took down my name and address and told me that if she had any shirts leftover she would mail me one since it was my first race.
I was meeting my All Ears teamates Calin and Josh for and their adorable kids for the first time. Calin was runnig with me and although I am sure she could have blown me away, she was very kind and ran at my pace. It was so fun getting to know them and I am excited to race with them, run with them and hang out again. THANKS CALIN!
I forgot, the number for my first race was 163. No medal, but that is ok, I had a number.
We stared out in a mob and soon enough relaxed into a good slow jog. Calin was comfortable to talk and jog and that made me at ease. I often had to wait a breath or two to get the words out, but it was relaxing to have a friend to talk with while running. At mile 1 they gave us water, and I thought I could run and drink at the same time, nope. That apparently is another skill you have to train for. At mile two we were at 27 minutes, I thought that was a pretty good pace for me. Around 2.5 I was starting to feel it, this was the fastest I had run before and there were some inclines we were dealing with, I lost my ability to chat at that point except for a few Shrek Donkey references of are we there yet?
I was hoping Boom Boom Pow with Michelle and Mike would come on my shuffle about then, but I couldn't find it. Although I got my fave song to run to right as we were rounding the corner to the finish The Heart Brings you back by Blues Traveler. We finished at 42 minutes and some change and it felt AWESOME! I was tired and felt like I pushed myself.
The atmosphere at the races makes you push yourself, and I think that is a huge benefit of doing them. I am excited to do my next one. I feel tired today but got in a strong swim this am 40 laps freestyle and 15 kicking. I am not too sore though, just tired.
I did not get to refuel last night because we did not leave the park at about 8:15pm and that menat that the kids dinner had consisted of the post race snacks of cookies, chips, juice, ice cream and posicles, hmm have to plan better for that the next race. I was too tired to cook when we got home, so dinner was baked tostitos chips and salsa.
I am going to figure out a schedule of races to do and post them. I am asking people if they want to help me fundraise to fight breast cancer to donate $5 everytime I finish a race.
I will definetely feel nervous, but more confident at the next race, I keep thinking about where I started mid April when I could not run for 5 minutes straight.
If you think you can you will for it's all in the state of mind.
#263
I must have looked clueless and like I might vomit because a kind organizer asked me if this was my first race. I told her it was and she was supportive and made me relax a bit. She even came over to me later and took down my name and address and told me that if she had any shirts leftover she would mail me one since it was my first race.
I was meeting my All Ears teamates Calin and Josh for and their adorable kids for the first time. Calin was runnig with me and although I am sure she could have blown me away, she was very kind and ran at my pace. It was so fun getting to know them and I am excited to race with them, run with them and hang out again. THANKS CALIN!
I forgot, the number for my first race was 163. No medal, but that is ok, I had a number.
We stared out in a mob and soon enough relaxed into a good slow jog. Calin was comfortable to talk and jog and that made me at ease. I often had to wait a breath or two to get the words out, but it was relaxing to have a friend to talk with while running. At mile 1 they gave us water, and I thought I could run and drink at the same time, nope. That apparently is another skill you have to train for. At mile two we were at 27 minutes, I thought that was a pretty good pace for me. Around 2.5 I was starting to feel it, this was the fastest I had run before and there were some inclines we were dealing with, I lost my ability to chat at that point except for a few Shrek Donkey references of are we there yet?
I was hoping Boom Boom Pow with Michelle and Mike would come on my shuffle about then, but I couldn't find it. Although I got my fave song to run to right as we were rounding the corner to the finish The Heart Brings you back by Blues Traveler. We finished at 42 minutes and some change and it felt AWESOME! I was tired and felt like I pushed myself.
The atmosphere at the races makes you push yourself, and I think that is a huge benefit of doing them. I am excited to do my next one. I feel tired today but got in a strong swim this am 40 laps freestyle and 15 kicking. I am not too sore though, just tired.
I did not get to refuel last night because we did not leave the park at about 8:15pm and that menat that the kids dinner had consisted of the post race snacks of cookies, chips, juice, ice cream and posicles, hmm have to plan better for that the next race. I was too tired to cook when we got home, so dinner was baked tostitos chips and salsa.
I am going to figure out a schedule of races to do and post them. I am asking people if they want to help me fundraise to fight breast cancer to donate $5 everytime I finish a race.
I will definetely feel nervous, but more confident at the next race, I keep thinking about where I started mid April when I could not run for 5 minutes straight.
If you think you can you will for it's all in the state of mind.
#263
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Forward Progress
Success!
Finally, I feel like I am making forward progress! I credit most of my success to all of the wonderful friends who have been following my progress and supporting me with kind words and helpful advice. My team mates from Team All Ears have aso been a wonderful source of support and advice. I feel very lucky to not feel isolated and alone on this tough personal journey. Thank you everone!!!
Weight Watchers was a great decision. Thank you Gael and Diane and Tara for suggesting that and inviting me to meetings. I never realized the food mistakes I was making before I started to track what I was really eating and how many points were assigned to what I was eating. I have lost 6 pounds in two weeks on weightwatchers and I have not been as faithful as I should be, so that shows that this is a good plan and it is working. What I like the most is that I can eat whatever I want, I just have to keep track and be accountable. In the past, I would think nothing of having five spoonfuls of the kids mac and cheese and then eating a full takeout dinner with Nik. Wow, what a big mistake that was!
I can feel my body changing and feel lighter in my step. I have now lost 18 pounds overall. I feel like summer is a great time to start this because of all of the fresh fruit and veggies and the accessibility to the grill.
I have also discovered baked tostitos chips, which makes me feel like I am not missing out on anything.
Exercising is going well. I am not improving as fast as I would like in my running speed and ease, but I am also taking it very slowly, so I do not injure myself. I have discovered that I love swimming, what a fantastic workout. I am in need of a road bike so that is on my list of things to acquire. I woud like to complete a mini Triathalon by the end of the summer, 1/2 mile swim, 3 mile run and 15-25 mile bike ride. I am going to run as many races as I can this summer and will work toward the Tufts 10K in the fall.
For my 1/2 marathon and training I am rasing money for the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast cancer is a serious disease that is affecting as many as 1 in 4 women. Please consider donating to this fund. If breast cancer has touched your life in any way or if you fear it might, please consider donating. I will be sending a new donation sheet out soon, but I am hoping to inspire people to donate to the breast cancer cause through my running, training and journey to become healthier.
Consider this, I am running my first 5K tonight, if I can do it, will you consider donating $5 toward fighting breast cancer?
If I can complete a triathalon would you consider donating $10?
If I lose 25 pounds, would you consider donating $5?
A very good friend of mine is battling ths disease right now and she is in my thoughts and in my heart everyday that I train. K if you are reading this, I hope you know that you are part of my inspiration.
Please Help me raise money to fight this disease. I am on a running team, you can read more about the team here. http://allears.net/pluto/teamallears.htm.
The Avon Foundation is distinguished from most other donors that fund a single institution or scientific investigator by supporting a virtual national network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research. The Avon Foundation awards funding in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research, including prevention and therapeutic vaccine studies.
Checks should be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and should be mailed to:
Deb Wills, 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite F03-105, Fredrick, MD 21704 Please to be sure to write Team All Ears Amanda Gonzales on the check in the notes. If it is easier, you can give me a check and I will bulk mail them as I receive them.You can also contribute online by clicking below or visiting
http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/DebWills Please be sure to put All Ears, Amanda Gonzales after your donation.
Thanks everyone, I will keep you posted on how the 5K went! Thanks again for all of your support!
Finally, I feel like I am making forward progress! I credit most of my success to all of the wonderful friends who have been following my progress and supporting me with kind words and helpful advice. My team mates from Team All Ears have aso been a wonderful source of support and advice. I feel very lucky to not feel isolated and alone on this tough personal journey. Thank you everone!!!
Weight Watchers was a great decision. Thank you Gael and Diane and Tara for suggesting that and inviting me to meetings. I never realized the food mistakes I was making before I started to track what I was really eating and how many points were assigned to what I was eating. I have lost 6 pounds in two weeks on weightwatchers and I have not been as faithful as I should be, so that shows that this is a good plan and it is working. What I like the most is that I can eat whatever I want, I just have to keep track and be accountable. In the past, I would think nothing of having five spoonfuls of the kids mac and cheese and then eating a full takeout dinner with Nik. Wow, what a big mistake that was!
I can feel my body changing and feel lighter in my step. I have now lost 18 pounds overall. I feel like summer is a great time to start this because of all of the fresh fruit and veggies and the accessibility to the grill.
I have also discovered baked tostitos chips, which makes me feel like I am not missing out on anything.
Exercising is going well. I am not improving as fast as I would like in my running speed and ease, but I am also taking it very slowly, so I do not injure myself. I have discovered that I love swimming, what a fantastic workout. I am in need of a road bike so that is on my list of things to acquire. I woud like to complete a mini Triathalon by the end of the summer, 1/2 mile swim, 3 mile run and 15-25 mile bike ride. I am going to run as many races as I can this summer and will work toward the Tufts 10K in the fall.
For my 1/2 marathon and training I am rasing money for the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast cancer is a serious disease that is affecting as many as 1 in 4 women. Please consider donating to this fund. If breast cancer has touched your life in any way or if you fear it might, please consider donating. I will be sending a new donation sheet out soon, but I am hoping to inspire people to donate to the breast cancer cause through my running, training and journey to become healthier.
Consider this, I am running my first 5K tonight, if I can do it, will you consider donating $5 toward fighting breast cancer?
If I can complete a triathalon would you consider donating $10?
If I lose 25 pounds, would you consider donating $5?
A very good friend of mine is battling ths disease right now and she is in my thoughts and in my heart everyday that I train. K if you are reading this, I hope you know that you are part of my inspiration.
Please Help me raise money to fight this disease. I am on a running team, you can read more about the team here. http://allears.net/pluto/teamallears.htm.
The Avon Foundation is distinguished from most other donors that fund a single institution or scientific investigator by supporting a virtual national network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research. The Avon Foundation awards funding in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research, including prevention and therapeutic vaccine studies.
Checks should be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and should be mailed to:
Deb Wills, 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite F03-105, Fredrick, MD 21704 Please to be sure to write Team All Ears Amanda Gonzales on the check in the notes. If it is easier, you can give me a check and I will bulk mail them as I receive them.You can also contribute online by clicking below or visiting
http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/DebWills Please be sure to put All Ears, Amanda Gonzales after your donation.
Thanks everyone, I will keep you posted on how the 5K went! Thanks again for all of your support!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
All Signs Point to 5am
I love to sleep, I love to sleep as late as I can, I love the reward of a glass of wine or two at the end of a loooong day of being a mom and chauveur to four children. My husband has to leave for work at 6:15 am, grrrrrr. As the CEO of this household. Job description: Raise, love and nurture four children, teach them the self help skills and wisdom they need to make it in life and grow up to be the thoughtful, intelligent, successful, caring, polite, savy and respectful individuals that they are destined to become.
Love and support my husband and be an interesting and attractive partner.
Clean, shop, maintain a house.
Feed and cook for a family of six.
Pay the bills budget and manage the finances
Run a successful Disney travel agency business.
Take care of the two cats.
Stay in shape and eat well.
Keep in touch with friends.
Train for a 1/2 marathon, rain money for breast cancer.
Shuttle my kids, to baby playgroups, baseball, soccer, swimming, gymnastic, ballet, speech therapy, OT therapy, PT therapy, horseback riding, camps, playdates, school, homework, projects, interesting activities desiged to create geniouses.
Lead a girl scout troop of 29 girls.
Manage the needs of my autistic son, including his therapies, reading about all of the latest research, and treatments, meet periodically with his team of six doctors, individually of course
Be a caring friend, and daughter.
So I think all of that deserves a glass of wne at the end of the day. However in the midst of suceeding at all of the above, I need to fit in workouts and train and since I am not a night person, nighttime workouts are not a viable option.
ALL SIGNS POINT TO A 5am wakup for training runs four times a week. Ugh. I hate running on the treadmill, I hate running with the jogging stroller. Therefore my only window other than on weekends when my husband is not working is to wake up at 5 am and go for a run.
This honestly seems harder than all of the above, but I am committed and must do it, so I will start tomorrow or Monday whenever the alarm beeps first. Any advice on how to muster the strength to do this????
This is my next goal!
IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT YOU DON"T, IT's ALL IN THE STATE OFMIND, Wish me luck!
Love and support my husband and be an interesting and attractive partner.
Clean, shop, maintain a house.
Feed and cook for a family of six.
Pay the bills budget and manage the finances
Run a successful Disney travel agency business.
Take care of the two cats.
Stay in shape and eat well.
Keep in touch with friends.
Train for a 1/2 marathon, rain money for breast cancer.
Shuttle my kids, to baby playgroups, baseball, soccer, swimming, gymnastic, ballet, speech therapy, OT therapy, PT therapy, horseback riding, camps, playdates, school, homework, projects, interesting activities desiged to create geniouses.
Lead a girl scout troop of 29 girls.
Manage the needs of my autistic son, including his therapies, reading about all of the latest research, and treatments, meet periodically with his team of six doctors, individually of course
Be a caring friend, and daughter.
So I think all of that deserves a glass of wne at the end of the day. However in the midst of suceeding at all of the above, I need to fit in workouts and train and since I am not a night person, nighttime workouts are not a viable option.
ALL SIGNS POINT TO A 5am wakup for training runs four times a week. Ugh. I hate running on the treadmill, I hate running with the jogging stroller. Therefore my only window other than on weekends when my husband is not working is to wake up at 5 am and go for a run.
This honestly seems harder than all of the above, but I am committed and must do it, so I will start tomorrow or Monday whenever the alarm beeps first. Any advice on how to muster the strength to do this????
This is my next goal!
IF YOU THINK YOU DARE NOT YOU DON"T, IT's ALL IN THE STATE OFMIND, Wish me luck!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Setting Goals
Wow, I have decided that the end of the year is much crazier than the holidays. We have been double and triple booked most days with end of the year activities and I must say it has been a struggle to squeeze in workouts. Last week was a rough week, but the good news is that I joined weight watchers, got yet another pair of new sneaker and got new inserts from align.
I am finding weight watchers easy in the day and harder at night but am not finding the time to write down everything that I eat.
I have found that goal setting is really working for me. I have a goal to run the neck without stopping, I came close this past Sunday, I was able to run up the first five inclines without stopping. I also have set a goal to be able to swim a mile freestyle. Freestyle has been very difficult for me so far. I swam 10 laps today and felt really proud. You have to believe in yourself to set a goal and accomplish it and you have to push yourself to accomplish it and most of all you have to dream to achieve your end goals and believe in yourself and your dreams
I have learned these past seven weeks that so much of this fitness training is a mental war. If you believe in yourself and set a goal and don't quit in your mind, your body will rise to the occasion and accomplish your goals. If you are negative and tell yourself you can't do that, you will quit.
It reminds me of one of my fave Mark Twain poems
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but don’t think you can,
It’s almost certain you won’t
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost
For out in the world you’ll find Success begins with a fellows will;
It’s all in a state of mind
For many a game is lost,
Before even a play is run,And many a coward fails
Before even his work has begun
Think big and your deeds will grow;
Think small and you’ll fall behind Think that you can and you will;
It’s all in a state of mind
Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins Is the fellow who thinks he can!
I am finding weight watchers easy in the day and harder at night but am not finding the time to write down everything that I eat.
I have found that goal setting is really working for me. I have a goal to run the neck without stopping, I came close this past Sunday, I was able to run up the first five inclines without stopping. I also have set a goal to be able to swim a mile freestyle. Freestyle has been very difficult for me so far. I swam 10 laps today and felt really proud. You have to believe in yourself to set a goal and accomplish it and you have to push yourself to accomplish it and most of all you have to dream to achieve your end goals and believe in yourself and your dreams
I have learned these past seven weeks that so much of this fitness training is a mental war. If you believe in yourself and set a goal and don't quit in your mind, your body will rise to the occasion and accomplish your goals. If you are negative and tell yourself you can't do that, you will quit.
It reminds me of one of my fave Mark Twain poems
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but don’t think you can,
It’s almost certain you won’t
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost
For out in the world you’ll find Success begins with a fellows will;
It’s all in a state of mind
For many a game is lost,
Before even a play is run,And many a coward fails
Before even his work has begun
Think big and your deeds will grow;
Think small and you’ll fall behind Think that you can and you will;
It’s all in a state of mind
Life’s battles don’t always go To the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins Is the fellow who thinks he can!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Getting Back in to it
Three weeks ago, I had a severe case of shin splints. The pain was so intense that I could barely walk. I iced, I swam and water jogged, I invested in new sneakers and went to Disney World; where magical pixie dust healed them. Ok, it is kind of scary that I do believe that could happen, anyway, back to my story.
I guess I have to say that I did not do any traditional workouts for those eight magical days. However, I did walk for about 6-8 hours everyday while pushing between 20-70 pounds of children in strollers at any moment. I think that might count as logging some walking workouts.
The good news is that by midweek, my shins were back to normal. We arrived back home last Saturday and I did not get any workouts in until today due to getting the household back into shape.
This morning I awoke to an organized house and felt overwhelmed with anxiety about getting back into it. Had I been bad by going away and not working out? Will I be able to pick up where I left off? Well, where I left off was not really that impressive. I decided to ease back into the workouts today with a swim/water jog. It was raining so I could not run outsie. I put poor Amelia in the torture room at the Y, oops I meant babysitting room where she proceded to cry for an hour. No guilt, no gain, I mean no pain no gain right?
I had a great swim, swam for an hour, 40 laps of breast stroke, 6 of kickboarding, 6 of water jogging. Not huge numbers to put up in an hour, but I feel good.
Tomorrow morning I am going to attept a longer jog/walk. I am looking to do two 5Ks by the end of June and drop ten more pounds by the end of June. I am thinking of joining weight watchers although I barely have time to work out not sure how I will fit that in with four kids home from school in 22 days. I am nervous about running tomorrow, but excited too.
I am very thankful to be on an amazing running team that has been a wonderful source of support and knowledge and am more dedicated than ever to completing this 1/2 marathon and raising money for breast cancer.
Please share you advice, tips and support. I am especially interested in fundraising tips and ideas. Feel free to share my blog with family and friends who have been touchd by breast cancer or are taking on a body improvement project themselves.
I guess I have to say that I did not do any traditional workouts for those eight magical days. However, I did walk for about 6-8 hours everyday while pushing between 20-70 pounds of children in strollers at any moment. I think that might count as logging some walking workouts.
The good news is that by midweek, my shins were back to normal. We arrived back home last Saturday and I did not get any workouts in until today due to getting the household back into shape.
This morning I awoke to an organized house and felt overwhelmed with anxiety about getting back into it. Had I been bad by going away and not working out? Will I be able to pick up where I left off? Well, where I left off was not really that impressive. I decided to ease back into the workouts today with a swim/water jog. It was raining so I could not run outsie. I put poor Amelia in the torture room at the Y, oops I meant babysitting room where she proceded to cry for an hour. No guilt, no gain, I mean no pain no gain right?
I had a great swim, swam for an hour, 40 laps of breast stroke, 6 of kickboarding, 6 of water jogging. Not huge numbers to put up in an hour, but I feel good.
Tomorrow morning I am going to attept a longer jog/walk. I am looking to do two 5Ks by the end of June and drop ten more pounds by the end of June. I am thinking of joining weight watchers although I barely have time to work out not sure how I will fit that in with four kids home from school in 22 days. I am nervous about running tomorrow, but excited too.
I am very thankful to be on an amazing running team that has been a wonderful source of support and knowledge and am more dedicated than ever to completing this 1/2 marathon and raising money for breast cancer.
Please share you advice, tips and support. I am especially interested in fundraising tips and ideas. Feel free to share my blog with family and friends who have been touchd by breast cancer or are taking on a body improvement project themselves.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Raising Money for Breast Cancer
May 5, 2009
Dear Friends,
I have decided to run the Disney World ½ marathon. Yes, I mean 13 miles! The ½ marathon is in Walt Disney World on January 9, 2010. I am motivated to run because it has always been one of my goals to run a ½ marathon and also because I want to become healthy and fit again. With my run, I will be raising money to support the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Cancer has always been a nightmare looming over my life like a dark cloud. My father passed away of cancer at age 54 and this year, two young women in my daughter’s Kindergarten class have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I have joined a Training team. You can read more about the team at: http://allears.net/pluto/teamallears.htm. Please read my blog to follow my training progress at http://heffalumptopixie.blogspot.com/
The Avon Foundation is distinguished from most other donors that fund a single institution or scientific investigator by supporting a virtual national network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research. The Avon Foundation awards funding in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research, including prevention and therapeutic vaccine studies.
Checks should be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and should be mailed to:
Deb Wills, 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite F03-105, Fredrick, MD 21704 Please to be sure to write Team All Ears Amanda Gonzales on the check in the notes. If it is easier, you can give me a check and I will bulk mail them as I receive them.You can also contribute online by clicking below or visiting
http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/DebWills
Please be sure to put All Ears, A Gonzales after your donation. I understand that we are all suffering through a tough economy. Every donation makes an impact. Please consider donating $5, $10, $15, $20 or more.
Thank you for your support!
Amanda Gonzales
Dear Friends,
I have decided to run the Disney World ½ marathon. Yes, I mean 13 miles! The ½ marathon is in Walt Disney World on January 9, 2010. I am motivated to run because it has always been one of my goals to run a ½ marathon and also because I want to become healthy and fit again. With my run, I will be raising money to support the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. Cancer has always been a nightmare looming over my life like a dark cloud. My father passed away of cancer at age 54 and this year, two young women in my daughter’s Kindergarten class have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I have joined a Training team. You can read more about the team at: http://allears.net/pluto/teamallears.htm. Please read my blog to follow my training progress at http://heffalumptopixie.blogspot.com/
The Avon Foundation is distinguished from most other donors that fund a single institution or scientific investigator by supporting a virtual national network of research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research. The Avon Foundation awards funding in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research, including prevention and therapeutic vaccine studies.
Checks should be made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer and should be mailed to:
Deb Wills, 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite F03-105, Fredrick, MD 21704 Please to be sure to write Team All Ears Amanda Gonzales on the check in the notes. If it is easier, you can give me a check and I will bulk mail them as I receive them.You can also contribute online by clicking below or visiting
http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/DebWills
Please be sure to put All Ears, A Gonzales after your donation. I understand that we are all suffering through a tough economy. Every donation makes an impact. Please consider donating $5, $10, $15, $20 or more.
Thank you for your support!
Amanda Gonzales
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Frustrating Setback
Shin Splints! Ouch and Ugh! I am so frustrated. I know I have been going all out training it is a major flaw of my personality to go all out into something pushing myself to the limit. I think I hurt my shins by increasing my mileage to quickly. Perhaps it was not so wise to jog for an hour on Friday. I feel like I am again waging a war between my heart and my body. My heart tells me it is ok to jog for an hour and my body is crumbling.
I have stabbing pains in my shins when I stand, when I walk, when I sit, it kills! I was supposed to run in a 5K today and as much as I want to do that, I do not want to further injure myself. I will continue icing and look into new sneakers and hopefully squeeze in a swim today. I have to slow down.
I am going to buy the Jeff Galloway book and start slow this week limiting myself to only two mile runs this week and hopefully with new shoes my legs can recover and be ok.
Happy Mothers Day!
I have stabbing pains in my shins when I stand, when I walk, when I sit, it kills! I was supposed to run in a 5K today and as much as I want to do that, I do not want to further injure myself. I will continue icing and look into new sneakers and hopefully squeeze in a swim today. I have to slow down.
I am going to buy the Jeff Galloway book and start slow this week limiting myself to only two mile runs this week and hopefully with new shoes my legs can recover and be ok.
Happy Mothers Day!
Friday, May 8, 2009
It Takes a Village to make a Pixie
I have come to the realization that it is easier to carry a baby for 9 months, go through the pain of delivery and the ensuing 12 months of little sleep than to get your body back into shape. Now granted, I am many pounds overweight and have not seriously and consistently exercised in about 13 years now, so I am coming from below rock bottom. However, you can't quit the pregnancy, if you are sick or in pain or uncomfortable you can't make it stop. However, when you are on a jog/hobble and every muscle in your legs feel like they are going to tear while they are also cramping and your stomach is upset and you are trying to push a jogging stroller up an incline, you can just stop. It is motivation to make me never fall out of this habit of exercising again. I do not want to ever have to feel the pain I have felt both physically and emotionally over the past three weeks again.
What has been helping me to get through these past few weeks is the support and caring comments from friends in the community both online and in my towm. Thank you everyone for your kind words, your encouragement, sharing your stories and tips and offering to help. It means so much to me. I am putting myself and my story out there in public to make myself accountable for my actions. I have tried hiding, trying to be invisible, feeling sad about my state of blobness for so long and realized that I am only hurting myself that way. I have never been a private person so I decided to make my personal battle public. So please help me!
If you see me running , toot your horn and say hi, it will help me push through. If you see me at the gym, say hi. If you have any good workout music to share, please let me know. If you have any diet tips or are going to a weight watchers meeting, let me know. The more support I have, the more motivated I will be.
I will be running those 12 miles in January for myself, but also for all the people whose lives have been impacted in some way by breast cancer. I am rasing money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Please share my blog with any friends and/or family who might appreciate this cause.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO MAKE A PIXIE AND TO FIGHT CANCER!
What has been helping me to get through these past few weeks is the support and caring comments from friends in the community both online and in my towm. Thank you everyone for your kind words, your encouragement, sharing your stories and tips and offering to help. It means so much to me. I am putting myself and my story out there in public to make myself accountable for my actions. I have tried hiding, trying to be invisible, feeling sad about my state of blobness for so long and realized that I am only hurting myself that way. I have never been a private person so I decided to make my personal battle public. So please help me!
If you see me running , toot your horn and say hi, it will help me push through. If you see me at the gym, say hi. If you have any good workout music to share, please let me know. If you have any diet tips or are going to a weight watchers meeting, let me know. The more support I have, the more motivated I will be.
I will be running those 12 miles in January for myself, but also for all the people whose lives have been impacted in some way by breast cancer. I am rasing money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Please share my blog with any friends and/or family who might appreciate this cause.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO MAKE A PIXIE AND TO FIGHT CANCER!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A Fleeting Thought of Quitting
So, this morning I repeated the same routine I have for the past three days. I convinced myself the night before that I would be setting the alarm for 5am and jumping out of bed and either heading to the gym for a swim or to the roads for a run. I have been alternating running every other day and swimming. Every morning I hear the alarm and fumble for the snooze and continue to hit snooze in a semi conscious state until 6:30am when my husband laughs at me as I make the joke that I actually went for a run at 3am and that I am now just waking up after sneaking back into bed at 4:30am, but forgot to turn off the alarm. I apparently have a hard time waking up at 5am to go to work out. The result of this is that my morning gets shot as I work out after school dropoff and have to torture my youngest in the Y babysitting room while I deal with that guilt throughout my workout. Then I am recovering and stretching while the baby naps until preschool pickup.
This morning I decided to step on the scale, it has been almost a week since I did this and surely I have lost another 10 pounds by now. I have been exercising every day for 30-60 minutes. I have been vigilant about my diet and have avoided excess sweets and Excess alcohol. What drinks do skinny peaople drink anyway? I have eaten nothing fried and not induldged in anything white or containing too many carbs. I have worked hard!! I step on the scale and immediately step off and back on again. This cannot be right, no way. Then I begin to scream at my scale WHAT THE ^$%*&&*)(_(*)(*&!!!!!!! I HAVE NOT LOST ONE EXTRA POUND!!!!!!!!
How can this be possible, what have I been killing myself for????? At that moment I could almost smell an extra cheese and large peperoni pizza and a bottle of wine. Why am I doing this if my body is just goingto be fat forever. I thought everyone told me eat less and move more and the pounds will come off. I FELT LIKE QUITTING.
I regathered myslf and reminded myself of how good my heart has been feeling and how much clearer my skin looks and of the committment I had made and reminded myself that this is a challenge that I cannot and will not fail at. This is important, vital to my future health and ability to be there for my children as they travel their journey through life.
I went to the gym after dropoff, dropped the baby in the dreaded sitting room, went upstairs and ran the best two miles I have run yet. It felt good. It felt triumphant. Hopefully those pounds will start falling off soon, but I feel like I overcame a demon today and dug dowm deep and found the courage to keep going.
Maybe I just need a new scale???????
This morning I decided to step on the scale, it has been almost a week since I did this and surely I have lost another 10 pounds by now. I have been exercising every day for 30-60 minutes. I have been vigilant about my diet and have avoided excess sweets and Excess alcohol. What drinks do skinny peaople drink anyway? I have eaten nothing fried and not induldged in anything white or containing too many carbs. I have worked hard!! I step on the scale and immediately step off and back on again. This cannot be right, no way. Then I begin to scream at my scale WHAT THE ^$%*&&*)(_(*)(*&!!!!!!! I HAVE NOT LOST ONE EXTRA POUND!!!!!!!!
How can this be possible, what have I been killing myself for????? At that moment I could almost smell an extra cheese and large peperoni pizza and a bottle of wine. Why am I doing this if my body is just goingto be fat forever. I thought everyone told me eat less and move more and the pounds will come off. I FELT LIKE QUITTING.
I regathered myslf and reminded myself of how good my heart has been feeling and how much clearer my skin looks and of the committment I had made and reminded myself that this is a challenge that I cannot and will not fail at. This is important, vital to my future health and ability to be there for my children as they travel their journey through life.
I went to the gym after dropoff, dropped the baby in the dreaded sitting room, went upstairs and ran the best two miles I have run yet. It felt good. It felt triumphant. Hopefully those pounds will start falling off soon, but I feel like I overcame a demon today and dug dowm deep and found the courage to keep going.
Maybe I just need a new scale???????
Monday, May 4, 2009
Teaching an Old Dog New Trick
I have discovered that even at the age of 36 which people still seem to deem "young", it is very hard to break old habits. I started on the journey to a better, stronger, healthier me about fourth months ago, when after 20 years of being a diet coke addict, I quit. Cold turkey, just said goodbye the delicious fizz and the phenaphylanines. It was hard for a few weeks and found I had to check myself often as it came naturally without thinking to order a diet coke since I have been ordering DC for so many years. However, I did it and now I drink a cup or two of coffee every morning to wake up.
Now I am breaking the habit of not making exercise a priority and it has been two weeks and a lot of work, but I am enjoying it. I wonder if I will ever walk again rather than hobble, but if hobbling will make me healthier, then I am ok with that. It is a challenge to fit it into the daily rat race, but I am making it work so far.
Now, two weeks into the exercise rehab, I am tackling the eating. This I find is the hardest of all. It is hard work and expensive and exhausting to be a Mommy to four young children and a wife and a CEO of the corporation that is our household. Finding the time to plan meals, cook them and stock the fridge with healthy food and snacks seems like mission impossible.
I had sort of hoped that once I started exercising the pounds would just fall off on their own and that I could still eat and drink in the same style I had always before. However, this is not happening. I spent a day wondering if maybe my mind can be taught new tricks, but not my body, maybe my body just likes being overweight and wants to be a heffalump.
NO! My Mind and body want to be a pixie. I am starting a war with my body and I intend on teaching this old dog a new trick.
This is a hard battle, but I know if I try hard enough, I can suceed, so bring on the battle body.
Now I am breaking the habit of not making exercise a priority and it has been two weeks and a lot of work, but I am enjoying it. I wonder if I will ever walk again rather than hobble, but if hobbling will make me healthier, then I am ok with that. It is a challenge to fit it into the daily rat race, but I am making it work so far.
Now, two weeks into the exercise rehab, I am tackling the eating. This I find is the hardest of all. It is hard work and expensive and exhausting to be a Mommy to four young children and a wife and a CEO of the corporation that is our household. Finding the time to plan meals, cook them and stock the fridge with healthy food and snacks seems like mission impossible.
I had sort of hoped that once I started exercising the pounds would just fall off on their own and that I could still eat and drink in the same style I had always before. However, this is not happening. I spent a day wondering if maybe my mind can be taught new tricks, but not my body, maybe my body just likes being overweight and wants to be a heffalump.
NO! My Mind and body want to be a pixie. I am starting a war with my body and I intend on teaching this old dog a new trick.
This is a hard battle, but I know if I try hard enough, I can suceed, so bring on the battle body.
Friday, May 1, 2009
A Day Off
I awoke this morning with the hope that I would not hobble, I would stand tall and walk, strut actually, the newer, leaner, buffer me. Well, I awoke in the same fashion I do every morning with DD6 snuggling up next to me chatting about fashion and clothes. Where did she come from? I am the queen of all tomboys, the clueless one with no fashion sense. I am convinced that she will be working for Vogue by age 22, anyhoo. I stood up after the request for syrup with a tad bit of waffles and hobbled. I was also exhausted since DH38 was out till 1am watching the Celtics lose and I could not fall asleep until I knew he was home safe and sound proteced from the Marbehead wildlife.
So, here I am at 6am, hobbling to the kitchen with the hopes I will in fact make it a consecutive 6th day of workouts and core upper and lower body and swim till I feel I wll drown. When three cups of coffee did not work, I decided to take a DAY OFF. Now here I am at 7:4o pm still hobbling. Guilty. Is it ok to take a day off.? MyDH38 gets home tomorrow at 8ish am. Soccer starts at 8:30am and the sports marathon should end by 4, but I aim to be running by 9am. Let's see how long I can last until I have another day off. I really want to succeed, but I am told muscles need to rest.
I think it is good that I am anxious to get running again. Can't wait till 9am. Burning some new cds onto my shuffle tonight and need a super duper do it all runners watch.
So, here I am at 6am, hobbling to the kitchen with the hopes I will in fact make it a consecutive 6th day of workouts and core upper and lower body and swim till I feel I wll drown. When three cups of coffee did not work, I decided to take a DAY OFF. Now here I am at 7:4o pm still hobbling. Guilty. Is it ok to take a day off.? MyDH38 gets home tomorrow at 8ish am. Soccer starts at 8:30am and the sports marathon should end by 4, but I aim to be running by 9am. Let's see how long I can last until I have another day off. I really want to succeed, but I am told muscles need to rest.
I think it is good that I am anxious to get running again. Can't wait till 9am. Burning some new cds onto my shuffle tonight and need a super duper do it all runners watch.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Hitting the Wall
The past eight years have been a whirlwind of time for me consisting mainly of pregnancy, nursing, sleepless nights, changing diapers, and agonizing decisions of parenthood. I find myself at age 36 incredibly out of shape and many pounds overweight.
There are the upsides, I have four beautiful children; Dear Son 7 who has autism, a topic for another post, Dear Daughter 6, a slave to fashion, Dear Daughter 4, a princess and Dear Daughter 1 well, trouble.
They bring joy to my life every minute of everyday. I love nurturing their needs and helping to shape them into thoughtful, caring, imaginative and intelligent individuals. Then there are the downsides, in the past eight years, my body has been put to the test; ripped apart by four pregnancies, four bouts of nursing and a general lack of overall care and attention. I stopped looking in the mirror about three years ago and refuse to be in any pictures. I still was wearing pregnancy size clothing and stopped being able to fit into my husbands clothing about three years ago.
On April 20, I looked in the mirror and sobbed. That was not me staring back. Who was that Heffalump I was looking at? I was always a pixie. A field hockey and lacrosse player, a coach, a runner, a gregarious, athletic, fun person. I hit the wall and decided to take action.
Everything Disney has always motovated me, so I started searching for a challenge and I found the Disney 1/2 marathon. I used to be an avid runner, that was my euphoric release from life's challenges. Without hesitation, I registered and enrolled in a team for support and guidance and began my Journey from Heffalump to Pixie Hollow.
I am on day 10 of this journey and have lost 10 pounds so far, many to go, and have been starting the slow and painful hobble back to fitness. I know it will not be easy and there will be many challenges, but I am committed to doing this I am inspired by all who have fought their battles with breast cancer and other forms of cancer and know that if they can take on that battle, I can take on my own battle and decrease my chances of cancer knocking on my door in the future. Come and follow me in my journey. I am raising money for breast cancer with my run in the 1/2 marathon.
There are the upsides, I have four beautiful children; Dear Son 7 who has autism, a topic for another post, Dear Daughter 6, a slave to fashion, Dear Daughter 4, a princess and Dear Daughter 1 well, trouble.
They bring joy to my life every minute of everyday. I love nurturing their needs and helping to shape them into thoughtful, caring, imaginative and intelligent individuals. Then there are the downsides, in the past eight years, my body has been put to the test; ripped apart by four pregnancies, four bouts of nursing and a general lack of overall care and attention. I stopped looking in the mirror about three years ago and refuse to be in any pictures. I still was wearing pregnancy size clothing and stopped being able to fit into my husbands clothing about three years ago.
On April 20, I looked in the mirror and sobbed. That was not me staring back. Who was that Heffalump I was looking at? I was always a pixie. A field hockey and lacrosse player, a coach, a runner, a gregarious, athletic, fun person. I hit the wall and decided to take action.
Everything Disney has always motovated me, so I started searching for a challenge and I found the Disney 1/2 marathon. I used to be an avid runner, that was my euphoric release from life's challenges. Without hesitation, I registered and enrolled in a team for support and guidance and began my Journey from Heffalump to Pixie Hollow.
I am on day 10 of this journey and have lost 10 pounds so far, many to go, and have been starting the slow and painful hobble back to fitness. I know it will not be easy and there will be many challenges, but I am committed to doing this I am inspired by all who have fought their battles with breast cancer and other forms of cancer and know that if they can take on that battle, I can take on my own battle and decrease my chances of cancer knocking on my door in the future. Come and follow me in my journey. I am raising money for breast cancer with my run in the 1/2 marathon.
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