I did it!! Week 5 workout #3 done!! I was so much better prepared for my workout at the fitness center today. I wore my clothes to lab so I didn't even have to change them. I wore my shorts today so no worries about the VPL. I also remembered to bring band for my hair. The front is not quite long enough to stick behind my ear. I used one of those elastic bands that goes all around your head. So the workout for Couch to 5 K today was warm up walk for 5 min and jog without stopping for 20 min. I thought I would die on the treadmill, but it was okay. My iPod shuffle needs attention so I haven't been using it to run, which was the whole purpose of buying, just haven't really gotten around to loading it up.
I went to Whole Foods right after working out. I intended to spend about $50, but I also went in blind without a list. Ended up spending $100 and still forgot to get my daughter's milk in a box for her school lunches. (I know, not the most environmentally correct thing, but saves my sanity.) I did get loads of good stuff. I got some organic veggie shortening because I've made 3 pie crusts in the past week. Something I probably have never done. If it's going to be a trend though I thought I would like to use something better than Crisco.
Another small victory in the past few days. I've had no added sugar in 2 days with on exception: my daughter asked for hot chocolate, but then didn't drink it. Well, I couldn't let it go to waste so I drank it. At least it was mostly milk as opposed to say a doughnut. I'm psyched. It was so easy to cut out soda and meat. Sugar is next!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
January 26
So far this week has gone really well in terms of exercise! The temp hitting 50 yesterday sure helped. I did my Week 5 #2 workout outside. Walk for 5 min., run for 8 until you complete 25 min. I just ran around Lovingston. I did weigh myself before lunch and the workout and I'm 126. So I guess I've lost 1 lb. I was a little disappointed, but I've been so concerned about not drinking soda and not eating meat that I've let the fat content go. Too much cheese and carbs! So my next goal is to really pay more attention to fat and extra carbs (read sugar.)
This morning I did a workout on one of my new workout DVDs. It's a Gaiam: 5 Workouts to Lose Weight. My kids were home because of the lousy weather so I picked what sounded like a workout they could keep up with. I choose the Walking one, which also sounded like the easiest. I like it, maybe a little because it was easy, but I could follow it and my kids could too. The balance ball one last week was ridiculously fast and I couldn't keep up. What's the point?
Gonna just keep plugging away.
This morning I did a workout on one of my new workout DVDs. It's a Gaiam: 5 Workouts to Lose Weight. My kids were home because of the lousy weather so I picked what sounded like a workout they could keep up with. I choose the Walking one, which also sounded like the easiest. I like it, maybe a little because it was easy, but I could follow it and my kids could too. The balance ball one last week was ridiculously fast and I couldn't keep up. What's the point?
Gonna just keep plugging away.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
January 23
I went to the Fitness Center at PVCC on Friday. Woohoo! It was so hard to drag myself in there. I went to lab in the morning and left my workout gear in the car. Mind you the wind chill was like 10 degrees or something. It was all I could do to go to my car, grab my clothes and then go back inside it was so cold. Whew! I did it though and found the locker room, then I had to motivate myself to change out of my warm clothes into the much colder clothes. *Note to self, bring workout clothes to lab with you next time, two reasons 1) I won't have to walk back to the freezing car 2) My clothes will at least be room temperature.
So I go into the fitness room...I had imagined lots of 20 somethings whose bodies hadn't been ravaged by time or children yet. Luckily, there was only another woman around my age and a couple of guys who were lifting weights. I just grabbed clothes as I ran out the door in the morning. I packed a pair of tights, a shirt I had never worn before and a sweatshirt. The shirt as it turns out was really short, so not only did I have VPL, but if you looked closely could spot the muffin top. Aaaugh. I thought I would just keep my back to the wall and nobody would see my butt. As I entered the room I noticed that the treadmills were at the front of the room and everybody would see my saggy rear end and the VPL! Oh well, I didn't know anybody, what did I care?
I am always intimidated and overwhelmed by gyms. There are so many pieces of equipment. Which ones are going to help me reach my goals? Well, I'm very familiar with treadmills so I started there. I wanted to work on my C25K plan since I had let up on it a bit. I forgot to bring the plan with me, but I knew the Week 2 stuff was a bit below my level so I just kind of did my own thing. I walked for 5 min to get warmed up, then I ran for 5 min and walked for 90 sec until I was on for a total of 25 min. When I got home I checked my chart and that is the first workout for Week 5. I'm ahead! Then I realized the third workout in Week 5 in to run for 20 min straight, which I believe I could do except that the dreadmill is called that for a reason and it's 30 degrees outside! So either I have to brave the cold or the boredom. I'll get back to you on that.
I still haven't weighed myself. Obviously, I need to get a scale of my own. I'm just hoping when I get to one I'll be really happy that I've lost some. I keep sort of accidentally cooking vegan meals. I have a number of vegetarian cookbooks now and they contain vegan recipes as well and they're the ones that sound good. I even had some vegan sour cream over the weekend and it was fabulous! I think I even liked it better and it's so good for you. The one I got was Tofutti brand, so it contains protein, but not all the fat.
I also tried the grocery delivery service: www.relayfoods.com and it was really easy! One thing they don't mention on their website is you have to bring your own bags. Luckily, I had some in the car. I love that they can deliver Whole Foods products as well as stuff from local farms. Very cool!
So I go into the fitness room...I had imagined lots of 20 somethings whose bodies hadn't been ravaged by time or children yet. Luckily, there was only another woman around my age and a couple of guys who were lifting weights. I just grabbed clothes as I ran out the door in the morning. I packed a pair of tights, a shirt I had never worn before and a sweatshirt. The shirt as it turns out was really short, so not only did I have VPL, but if you looked closely could spot the muffin top. Aaaugh. I thought I would just keep my back to the wall and nobody would see my butt. As I entered the room I noticed that the treadmills were at the front of the room and everybody would see my saggy rear end and the VPL! Oh well, I didn't know anybody, what did I care?
I am always intimidated and overwhelmed by gyms. There are so many pieces of equipment. Which ones are going to help me reach my goals? Well, I'm very familiar with treadmills so I started there. I wanted to work on my C25K plan since I had let up on it a bit. I forgot to bring the plan with me, but I knew the Week 2 stuff was a bit below my level so I just kind of did my own thing. I walked for 5 min to get warmed up, then I ran for 5 min and walked for 90 sec until I was on for a total of 25 min. When I got home I checked my chart and that is the first workout for Week 5. I'm ahead! Then I realized the third workout in Week 5 in to run for 20 min straight, which I believe I could do except that the dreadmill is called that for a reason and it's 30 degrees outside! So either I have to brave the cold or the boredom. I'll get back to you on that.
I still haven't weighed myself. Obviously, I need to get a scale of my own. I'm just hoping when I get to one I'll be really happy that I've lost some. I keep sort of accidentally cooking vegan meals. I have a number of vegetarian cookbooks now and they contain vegan recipes as well and they're the ones that sound good. I even had some vegan sour cream over the weekend and it was fabulous! I think I even liked it better and it's so good for you. The one I got was Tofutti brand, so it contains protein, but not all the fat.
I also tried the grocery delivery service: www.relayfoods.com and it was really easy! One thing they don't mention on their website is you have to bring your own bags. Luckily, I had some in the car. I love that they can deliver Whole Foods products as well as stuff from local farms. Very cool!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
January 20
10 days since my last post! Yikes! Life has been getting in the way. I've been walking a few miles every other day, but I've lost some ground with the C25K plan. I'm not discouraged though. The weather sucks! Note to self: do not make physical fitness resolutions in January (especially when your treadmill is dead.) I have every confidence that I will be ready for the 5K in April. I did try one of my new fitness DVDs. It was a balance ball one that worked arms. Who knew a balance ball could work your arms? Okay, probably everybody but me.
I haven't weighed myself lately. I don't feel like I've lost any weight. I've been doing great with no soda, no fried food and no meat, but still don't feel the weight falling off. I've even been packing my lunch! That is so huge for me. When I first started working it was office protocol that you go out for lunch. I've pretty much had that mindset ever since. When you take your lunch not only do you save money, but you control portion and content. By the time I ate lunch today I was so hungry I was grateful for my leftover spaghetti. I just have to keep it going!
Eating out has been very easy. Last night I went to Sticks and ordered the Grilled Vegetable Kebob platter, but asked them to hold the rice. That way I was able to get 2 sides: hummus and seasame green beans. Yummy and incidentally, vegan.
I haven't weighed myself lately. I don't feel like I've lost any weight. I've been doing great with no soda, no fried food and no meat, but still don't feel the weight falling off. I've even been packing my lunch! That is so huge for me. When I first started working it was office protocol that you go out for lunch. I've pretty much had that mindset ever since. When you take your lunch not only do you save money, but you control portion and content. By the time I ate lunch today I was so hungry I was grateful for my leftover spaghetti. I just have to keep it going!
Eating out has been very easy. Last night I went to Sticks and ordered the Grilled Vegetable Kebob platter, but asked them to hold the rice. That way I was able to get 2 sides: hummus and seasame green beans. Yummy and incidentally, vegan.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Snapping Hip Syndrome
Since I haven't exercised in 3 days I don't have much to write about on that. Tomorrow, providing there's no snow, I plan on walking to and from U Hall again. I've been doing well with the eating, getting in my fruits and veggies. I caved and had a Boston Creme donut the other day, but doing better overall with decreasing my sugar intake. So there's my update...
Even though I haven't been running for a few days I've been doing my physical therapy exercises for my snapping hip syndrome. A few years ago my hips were making a horrible cracking noise, it sounded like bone on bone. After seeing Dr. Robert Wilder, the local sports medicine guru, and having an Xray, he diagnosed me. It's not a bone issue, one of the ligaments that runs from my lower back to my thigh snaps across my pelvic bone. I went to physical therapy and was recommended to do some exercises 5 times a day! It was impossible and the exercises may my hips feel disconnected so I quit. I decided to go to Bikram Yoga to see if that helped. I think it did, unfortunately, I could only go once a week so I don't think I benefited as much as I could have if I was able to go regularly. Bikram Yoga is a one and a half hour session and it's not inexpensive. After awhile I just couldn't go anymore.
I was diagnosed back in 2008 by 2009 I wasn't doing anything for it. Last year about this time I went to my PCP to get a new referral to physical therapy. My PCP is also a runner and he recommended Eric Mangrum to do my therapy this time. I explained up front that I could not do the exercises 5 times a day. He said once a day! He was mostly concerned with my core muscles. Since they were so floppy ( I can't imagine why) my posture was bad and I stuck out my heiney which shortened my leg muscles which made the ligament pop. Joy
My rear end has been sticking out a long time. I remember as a child my mom saying over and over "tuck your butt in." I don't know how much is related to the slight curve in my spine. Every well baby visit to my pediatrician involved my bending over and the doc making a mark on each vertebrae to see if the curve got worse.
Most of you probably don't have to think about where your butt is when you run, but now I'm hypersensitive about what I'm doing with my butt when I run. I end up running in a shuffle, which is weird to me. See...when I was in high school 20 plus years ago the emphasis was on how long your stride could be. We had exercises in track where the coach would draw lines on the track (yes, in the country our track was still dirt) and we had to run so our strides hit the lines. Try it, it makes you bend your back and stick your butt out. So all that training in high school led to my snapping hips! Now I guess I'm finally old enough to feel the repercussions. Ugh.
Even though I haven't been running for a few days I've been doing my physical therapy exercises for my snapping hip syndrome. A few years ago my hips were making a horrible cracking noise, it sounded like bone on bone. After seeing Dr. Robert Wilder, the local sports medicine guru, and having an Xray, he diagnosed me. It's not a bone issue, one of the ligaments that runs from my lower back to my thigh snaps across my pelvic bone. I went to physical therapy and was recommended to do some exercises 5 times a day! It was impossible and the exercises may my hips feel disconnected so I quit. I decided to go to Bikram Yoga to see if that helped. I think it did, unfortunately, I could only go once a week so I don't think I benefited as much as I could have if I was able to go regularly. Bikram Yoga is a one and a half hour session and it's not inexpensive. After awhile I just couldn't go anymore.
I was diagnosed back in 2008 by 2009 I wasn't doing anything for it. Last year about this time I went to my PCP to get a new referral to physical therapy. My PCP is also a runner and he recommended Eric Mangrum to do my therapy this time. I explained up front that I could not do the exercises 5 times a day. He said once a day! He was mostly concerned with my core muscles. Since they were so floppy ( I can't imagine why) my posture was bad and I stuck out my heiney which shortened my leg muscles which made the ligament pop. Joy
My rear end has been sticking out a long time. I remember as a child my mom saying over and over "tuck your butt in." I don't know how much is related to the slight curve in my spine. Every well baby visit to my pediatrician involved my bending over and the doc making a mark on each vertebrae to see if the curve got worse.
Most of you probably don't have to think about where your butt is when you run, but now I'm hypersensitive about what I'm doing with my butt when I run. I end up running in a shuffle, which is weird to me. See...when I was in high school 20 plus years ago the emphasis was on how long your stride could be. We had exercises in track where the coach would draw lines on the track (yes, in the country our track was still dirt) and we had to run so our strides hit the lines. Try it, it makes you bend your back and stick your butt out. So all that training in high school led to my snapping hips! Now I guess I'm finally old enough to feel the repercussions. Ugh.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
January 8
Okay, I've hit a tough patch and only 2 weeks in! I've been back to work last week and that means I have no time to exercise. I wake up at 5:15 to get myself ready before the kids wake up, then they get up and I leave the house by 7:00. One thing I did was start parking at U-Hall and walking a mile to the hospital to get to work. I walked to and from on Wednesday, so two miles at a brisk pace. I took the bus Thursday and then walked to on Friday, got hit by a cold like a Mack truck so took the bus back that afternoon. Now I'm at home by myself with the kids, it' freezing cold outside and my treadmill is dead inside. Bummer. I could try one of my new CDs, but that would mean the kids would be trying to do it and getting bored and asking me to play with them.
I didn't eat well on Friday either. No meat, but not many vegetables either, mostly carbs. Today; however, I've been doing better. Yogurt with fruit and granola for breakfast and a piece of avocado pizza at Christian's for lunch. Not sure what's on board for dinner....
I didn't eat well on Friday either. No meat, but not many vegetables either, mostly carbs. Today; however, I've been doing better. Yogurt with fruit and granola for breakfast and a piece of avocado pizza at Christian's for lunch. Not sure what's on board for dinner....
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January 4
Big crazy good day. Got the kids back to school finally! We've been needing routine again. I was still off though. I had to take my husband to a doctors appointment. As we are driving back home I'm thinking about all of the things I have to do and then it occurs to me I better do my workout first or I will procrastinate it away. Got home, changed into my running clothes, I was so cold I couldn't bear to change bras. So I didn't, I was planning on using the treadmill in the basement how crazy could I get?? I head to the basement with my Run Like a Mother book. I get started with my 5 minute brisk run, but when I get to running the treadmill slows down. I try a few more times and it's clear the treadmill is dying. This had happened to my husband a few times and I just teased him about how the treadmill just couldn't handle him. Hmm...guess I'll have to Freecycle it. Maybe someone who is mechanically blessed will be able to fix it.
I decide to continue my workout outside which means I have to add a few layers. I do another modified Week 1 workout because who can run and look at their watch at the same time? The program is run for 60 sec and then walk for 90 sec until you've reached 20 minutes. I get home and no longer have to worry about being cold and the regular bra held up just fine! Bonus!
So as for food...I've read recently that the best time to eat fruit is on an empty stomach. The body can absorb more of the nutrients. Therefore the best time to eat fruit is the first thing in the morning. Today I had a half a cantaloupe first thing at about 6:30AM. I knew I would get hungry later so I took a half a gooey granola bar from Whole Foods with me to the doctors appointment. I ate it around 9:30. I started my workout at about 11:50. (I'm always wary about eating around workout times.) For lunch I made a salad from leftover stuff in the fridge. My salad was on the small to medium size. I decided to actually measure out the 2 tablespoons they recommend as a serving. It was too much and I used only 1.5 tablespoons! Just to have some crunch I also had a few Terra Chips, but I also followed the recommended serving of 7 chips. For dinner I had macaroni and cheese, with regular elbow noodles because that's what I had, but I did use organic milk and cheese. I also cooked fresh spinach instead of frozen. The birthday cake called my name all day and I did succumb and had a taste about half the size of my palm, plus a few M&Ms, about 10. I drank water all day. I'm feeling good, sometimes hungry, I just have to be prepared and take healthy snacks with me so I'm not caught starving with only fatty stuff around me. Just hoping I can keep this up.
Weigh in on Sunday. Have to see if I've lost anything in a week.
I decide to continue my workout outside which means I have to add a few layers. I do another modified Week 1 workout because who can run and look at their watch at the same time? The program is run for 60 sec and then walk for 90 sec until you've reached 20 minutes. I get home and no longer have to worry about being cold and the regular bra held up just fine! Bonus!
So as for food...I've read recently that the best time to eat fruit is on an empty stomach. The body can absorb more of the nutrients. Therefore the best time to eat fruit is the first thing in the morning. Today I had a half a cantaloupe first thing at about 6:30AM. I knew I would get hungry later so I took a half a gooey granola bar from Whole Foods with me to the doctors appointment. I ate it around 9:30. I started my workout at about 11:50. (I'm always wary about eating around workout times.) For lunch I made a salad from leftover stuff in the fridge. My salad was on the small to medium size. I decided to actually measure out the 2 tablespoons they recommend as a serving. It was too much and I used only 1.5 tablespoons! Just to have some crunch I also had a few Terra Chips, but I also followed the recommended serving of 7 chips. For dinner I had macaroni and cheese, with regular elbow noodles because that's what I had, but I did use organic milk and cheese. I also cooked fresh spinach instead of frozen. The birthday cake called my name all day and I did succumb and had a taste about half the size of my palm, plus a few M&Ms, about 10. I drank water all day. I'm feeling good, sometimes hungry, I just have to be prepared and take healthy snacks with me so I'm not caught starving with only fatty stuff around me. Just hoping I can keep this up.
Weigh in on Sunday. Have to see if I've lost anything in a week.
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 3
Okay, diet officially starts tomorrow! Unfortunately, there is a half a birthday cake leftover. I'm hoping the rest of my family finishes it quickly so I don't have to look at it much longer.
I've had a few revelations over the past few days. The first I can't really take credit for, I was helped along with this one. Two friends of mine who are vegan have given me some helpful advice about switching over. They were both vegetarians for years before they made the switch. One friend said that in her experience when omnivores go vegan cold turkey (no pun intended), they've been unsuccessful. It's too much change all at once. Whew! I'm not sure what I was worried about, but I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of becoming vegan now. I've already cut out soda, chicken, all red meat. I've eaten seafood in the last week, but am going to cut that out too. That's not bad in two weeks. Still not talking about my sugar intake yet.
The other revelation is that exercising in going to be hard for me. It just is, I'm lazy I guess. I am going to do my C25K workout tomorrow, but I need to get on some strength training too. I got a new Gaiam DVD for my birthday. 5 different workouts for weight loss. Will have to check it out and report back.
The Nelson Roadrunners meet tomorrow. I want to run with them, but it's the 6:30PM time that's killing me. I usually eat dinner with the family at 6:00PM. I can't eat a full meal and then run and I don't want to eat after 7:00PM. Not to mention that my oldest daughter has homework to do after dinner. I've also just gotten rid of a big commitment recently and it has been a huge relief not to have anymore (no it's not my husband.) I'm not sure how involved I want to get. I think I want to be free, yeah free sounds good.
I've had a few revelations over the past few days. The first I can't really take credit for, I was helped along with this one. Two friends of mine who are vegan have given me some helpful advice about switching over. They were both vegetarians for years before they made the switch. One friend said that in her experience when omnivores go vegan cold turkey (no pun intended), they've been unsuccessful. It's too much change all at once. Whew! I'm not sure what I was worried about, but I was feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of becoming vegan now. I've already cut out soda, chicken, all red meat. I've eaten seafood in the last week, but am going to cut that out too. That's not bad in two weeks. Still not talking about my sugar intake yet.
The other revelation is that exercising in going to be hard for me. It just is, I'm lazy I guess. I am going to do my C25K workout tomorrow, but I need to get on some strength training too. I got a new Gaiam DVD for my birthday. 5 different workouts for weight loss. Will have to check it out and report back.
The Nelson Roadrunners meet tomorrow. I want to run with them, but it's the 6:30PM time that's killing me. I usually eat dinner with the family at 6:00PM. I can't eat a full meal and then run and I don't want to eat after 7:00PM. Not to mention that my oldest daughter has homework to do after dinner. I've also just gotten rid of a big commitment recently and it has been a huge relief not to have anymore (no it's not my husband.) I'm not sure how involved I want to get. I think I want to be free, yeah free sounds good.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Years Day
So here I am. I forgot to weigh myself this morning before I started eating for the day. I weighed myself around 3:00PM. I was 127 lbs. I've only weighed that much 3 times in my life. Sophomore year of college when I had put on the freshman 15 and then apparently the sophomore 15. The other two times was during my pregnancies when I think I topped out the scales around 140 lbs each time.
I did the second day of Week 1 in the Couch to 5K plan today. Well, sort of....I had company again. I got my running clothes on and as I was walking out the door the kids asked where I was going. Ugh. After begging me to go and me saying no about 6 times I relented. The kids quickly put on running gear which is basically any pants that aren't jeans and their sneakers. My 3 year insisted she was just going to sit int he stroller so she put on her everyday Mary Jane type shoes. Me and my other daughter did our 5 minute warm up walk and when it was time to run the little one started with "Actually (which she always says when she's changing her mind) I wanna run." So I ditched the stroller in a neighbors front yard and the three of us did a modified version of the Week 1 workout. It's fun to have the kids and I'm glad they are getting exercise too, but I'm going to need some mommy workout time if this is going to work.
I haven't mentioned the diet because it doesn't officially start until January 4. Don't get me wrong I am eating better and more consciously, but it's birthday weekend. We did the first of three birthday dinners tonight at a teppan yaki restaurant. Tomorrow it's Thai and then home cookin' at mom's house with cake. Whew!
Hope everyone had a good New Years and are making those resolutions work for you!
I still plan on a picture! It will come! And I haven't quoted Skinny Bitch because I loaned the book out.
I did the second day of Week 1 in the Couch to 5K plan today. Well, sort of....I had company again. I got my running clothes on and as I was walking out the door the kids asked where I was going. Ugh. After begging me to go and me saying no about 6 times I relented. The kids quickly put on running gear which is basically any pants that aren't jeans and their sneakers. My 3 year insisted she was just going to sit int he stroller so she put on her everyday Mary Jane type shoes. Me and my other daughter did our 5 minute warm up walk and when it was time to run the little one started with "Actually (which she always says when she's changing her mind) I wanna run." So I ditched the stroller in a neighbors front yard and the three of us did a modified version of the Week 1 workout. It's fun to have the kids and I'm glad they are getting exercise too, but I'm going to need some mommy workout time if this is going to work.
I haven't mentioned the diet because it doesn't officially start until January 4. Don't get me wrong I am eating better and more consciously, but it's birthday weekend. We did the first of three birthday dinners tonight at a teppan yaki restaurant. Tomorrow it's Thai and then home cookin' at mom's house with cake. Whew!
Hope everyone had a good New Years and are making those resolutions work for you!
I still plan on a picture! It will come! And I haven't quoted Skinny Bitch because I loaned the book out.
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