Yay! Results!

I have lost 7 lbs in the past two weeks from running and walking--yay!! In other news, I am dead tired and my body hurts!

What am I thinking?

Ahh! What am I thinking, putting my body through this torture? I ran my six miles outside last Friday and it was COLD! My face was wind burnt the whole day and I looked like a tomato. I ran outside (4 miles) on Sunday while snow hit me in the face. My body is exhausted. I keep falling asleep when I go home at night. My poor shin splints HURT. Why am I going through all this?

Because I want to prove to myself that I can do it! I am going to keep pushing through the pain and the fatigue and try my best.

In other good news, I've lost all the weight I gained in the month of January--whoo hoo!

This week:
Sunday--4 miles
Monday--3 miles
Tuesday--weights and pilates
Wednesday--basketball
Thursday--3 miles
Saturday--7 miles--then I head on a plane to Italy and will be taking a week off to explore Italy and eat as much as I can!

Foot Injury

It seems I have a high ankle sprain (diagnosed by Phil, the coach of the Marathon Club). It ached all night last night - kept waking me up. I think I did this on Monday. It was painful on Tues, but not constant like it was all night last night!!! I have to do the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) now. I took some Advil and did ice this morning and so far I haven't had discomfort. I'm guessing I shouldn't do a lot of walking the next few days. I am bummed about this setback! I will do some exercises tonight that don't require me to be on my feet too much. I've never had issues with my left foot so this stinks.

Training week

Last night I walked 2 miles -- OUTSIDE! It was 41 degrees out. A tad bit nip when I'd walk this one area cuz the wind was blowing in my face. But, I survived it! I told myself if the temp is above 40, I am walking outside. So, that's what I did! My foot no longer hurts, but now my right shin and glute is SORE!! Probably because I didn't stretch before and after (my bad). I dread the 3 miles tomorrow -- and have no idea how I'll do 6 miles on Saturday!!! AAAGH!!!! And next week the mileage increases. Oy!

Official Training

This is the first week for official 1/2 marathon training and I am exhausted! I'm working my running schedule around my Tuesday night weights/pilates class.

My body aches! My legs are exhausted and my butt hurts from the new weight routine.

Sunday-3 miles
Monday-2 miles/weights
Tuesday-Couldn't make it to class so I did Biggest Loser Bob Workout--good grief that was exhausting
Wednesday-Basketball
Thursday--Need to do 3 miles
Friday--Need to do my Saturday training of 6 miles since I have to work all weekend.

I must admit last night I was tired after I got home (around 8ish) and all I wanted to do was go to bed or lay around. After I did the Biggest Loser workout, I felt MUCH better and could actually get some more stuff done.

Keep at it!

Fallen Off the Wagon!

Talk about slacking, I have fallen off the wagon completely. I haven't exercised at all and can't get myself motivated and my eating has been pitiful!! We had a health assessment here today at work and it was depressing when I got on the scales! I hope to get motivated again and am looking forward to spring and nicer weather!

This is my first post. Not sure if I'm doing it right. You guys are impressive! I hope you make me so jealous with your accomplishments that I get off my butt and start doing some stuff. I'm dealing with the everyday issues of fibromyalgia and chronic headaches, so it's hard to get motivated when I feel like making it through the day at work is the biggest accomplishment I can do! Now, my doctor has me on mega doses of Lyrica which cause weight gain.

Keep going ladies! I'll try to get myself on the right track.

1/2 Marathon Training...

Begins this week!!! The schedule is:
Mon - 3 miles
Tues - 2 miles
Thurs - 3 miles
Saturday - 6 miles
Pray for me and my feet (and back, calves, shins, etc.)--I totally intend to do this thing!! I got new tennies that are awesome!!! I got clothes set aside -- got the TM ready with a book to read on it and the TV and DVD player hooked up so I'm set!!!
What have I gotten myself into???!!!!

Being a Slacker

I've been a slacker for the past two weeks. I was really down because I stepped on the scale and, even though I exercised 21 out of 31 days in January, I gained some pounds that I don't want to talk about. I decided to give up treats for the month of February. I've only slipped up a day or two.

I am excited about the Rabbits and Snails group and look forward to training. I thought it was interesting that the trainers mentioned how important weight lifting and core work are. I want to work on trying to incorporate this into an extra day.

So far this week:
Sunday: ran 6 miles
Monday: ran 3 miles
Tuesday: Weights, Pilates
Wednesday: Basketball game

Hopefully I can get a run in tonight and Saturday.

Last week:
Sunday: 2.5 miles
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: 3 miles
Wednesday: Basketball

In other news, I bought new basketball shoes. They have helped but I still have some shin splits. I am going to try to get new running shoes this weekend.

Walking

I walked on the TM last night 1 1/2 miles. I was only going to do 1, but then I thought heck, might as well go more. It only took 10 mins longer than the mile the night before. I really tried to walk faster. It hasn't been bad - I'm so relieved. It's little steps, but I know one day I'll look back at how it took such effort to do 1-2 miles and I'll be like whoa, that's nothing!!!

Week Two

Week two of the new eating plan's going well. I haven't been perfect, I've had some junk here and there. Funny thing is, I haven't been craving sweets (such a relief!) -- but I have been hungry! So if I feel hungry, I allow myself to eat something - not too fattening. But I just cannot abide feeling hungry! Makes me think of food too much!! Last night I got home after 8, but I got on that TM and walked 1 mile. Took longer than I'd like, but right now I'm concerned more with getting in the miles than my speed. Speed will come as I get in better shape! I'm just glad I did it and it wasn't that bad! I want to do another mile tonight and tomorrow, work up to two 1/2 over the weekend so I'll be good to go on Monday when official training starts and I have to do 3 miles! I'm kind of excited about this because it's a challenge. I need a challenge. Plus I have friends who believe in me, and that helps a lot!

TWO DAYS AND COUNTING

I made it through Monday and Tuesday on my eating plan. I was really having a rough time of it yesterday for some reason. I think it's PMS related. I haven't been craving chocolate or sweets, I just felt hungry. Maybe I didn't get enough water too? I don't know, but it really wasn't fun. But I just chewed gum and that helped BIG TIME.

You Heard It Hear First

I am starting a new eating plan. I am going to give it 2 weeks -- allegedly it keeps you from being hungry and lose weight relatively fast. I am, as always, skeptical. It's a plan where you eat six times a day and a lot of protein. I'm hoping this helps. I hope to get to the store this weekend to buy the food. It's not too expensive -- the magazine I read about it in said it's $38/week. Kind of based on MediFast (I think that's the one). But it's food I like and will have no issue with eating. I'm also hoping to get motivated for exercise once I meet with the Rabbits and Snails group on Feb. 9.

This week-Shin Splints

This week has been rough for me. My basketball shoes (that are 9 years old) are giving me shin splints. This happened in the fall as well. I can't really afford new ones, so I'm sticking shoe support in them to see if it will work. The pain has really affected my workout for the week. I am going to try to tape my leg and see if that helps.

Sunday: 2 1/2 miles, weights
Monday: 30 minutes on bike, 10 minutes steps
Tuesday: plan on weight lifting, pilates
Wednesday: basketball game
Rest of the week: up in the air

Back in control

I am so happy to report that I am feeling more and more in control of my eating this week. I hope it continues! I still haven't been getting my exercise in this week but it's baby steps and that's what counts.

This week

Well I hadn't exercised since last Wed. Yes it's easy to let it slide, and I'm afraid I'm a pro at that. I did walk the TM last night, but not very long. I really need to get myself switched around to do the exercising in the a.m., because I get home so late (7:30-8:00) and I don't want to exercise! Even tho' I know it's good for me and I do feel better when I do it. I also need to exercise in the a.m. because then I'd really sweat. I hate having to shower twice a day (unless it's summer and I'm clammy). So exercising at night and getting all sweaty isn't something I like to do. My whole body clock and work clock are totally screwed up - it's been this way for a while. I really have to get myself into a good schedule - one that includes exercise, period. End of story.

This week's workout schedule

My anticipated workout schedule for this week:

Sunday--Nike 10K workout (1/2 hour sprinting/hills on treadmill), a bit of running and walking--40 minutes/Free weights
Monday-- ran 4 miles--46 minutes
Tuesday--strength training/pilates
Wednesday--basketball--hurt my knee... I'm too old to dive for a ball.
Saturday--2.5 miles running

Back on Schedule

The wintery mix last week threw my exercise routine off balance. While I had planned on playing basketball Wednesday and working out Saturday, I was off Wednesday (due to snow), Thursday I had family obligations, Friday it was 0 degrees so I wasn't about to go outside and then it started snowing Saturday, so that gave me my answer.

This 4-day span was probably the longest I've gone with exercising in two years. And I can see how easy it is to fall off the wagon, especially if you are just starting out. That's why you have to make exercising a part of your daily routine, much like eating breakfast, watching TV and brushing your teeth. Set aside a time that you are going to get in a workout, and stick with that time each day. It may take some adjusting, though. I used to pledge that I would go to the gym before work, but I couldn't drag myself out of bed in the mornings. Now, I pack my gym bag with me and haul it to work, and head to the gym as soon as 5 p.m. hits. I'm still home at a decent hour, and I can check the workout off on my calendar.

Soon you'll just go to the gym without thinking about it. And if you miss a day or two, you'll start feeling pangs of sadness and want to go back for awhile. It's important also to continue to go even if you feel sore from your previous workout or you're too cold--trust me! Best of luck finding what works for you.

From SparkPeople: 9 Cold, Hard Weight Loss Truths

I bolded some shocking things.

Even if you’re not trying to lose weight, chances are you’ve seen some ideas on how to do so: “Eat what you want and lose weight!”
“Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!”
“Finally, a diet that really works!”
“Lose one jean size every 7 days!”
“Top 3 fat burners revealed”
“10 minutes to a tighter tummy!”

But these claims are readily rebuked by anyone who’s tried to lose five, 10, or 100 pounds. Losing weight ain’t that easy. It’s not in a pill, it doesn’t (usually) happen in 30 days, and judging from the myriad plans out there, there is no one diet that works for everyone.

Looking past the outrageous claims, there are a few hard truths the diet industry isn’t going to tell you, but that just might help you take a more realistic approach to sustained weight loss.

1. You have to exercise more than you think.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week; this includes things like shoveling snow and gardening. And while this is great for improving heart health and staying active, research indicates that those looking to lose weight or maintain weight loss have to do more—about twice as much.

For instance, members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR)—a group of over 5,000 individuals who have lost an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for five and a half years—exercise for about an hour, every day. A study published in the July 28, 2008 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine supports this observational finding. The researchers enrolled 200 overweight and obese women on a diet and exercise regimen and followed them for two years. Compared with those that gained some of their weight back, the women who were able to sustain a weight loss of 10 percent of their initial weight for two years exercised consistently and regularly—about 275 minutes a week, or 55 minutes of exercise at least five days a week.

In other words, things like taking the stairs, walking to the store, and gardening are great ways to boost activity level, but losing serious weight means exercising regularly for an hour or so. However, this doesn’t mean you have to start running or kickboxing—the most frequently reported form of activity in the NWCR group is walking.

2. A half-hour walk doesn’t equal a brownie.
I remember going out to eat with some friends after a bike ride. Someone commented on how we deserved dessert because we had just spent the day exercising; in fact, we had taken a leisurely 20-minute ride through the park. This probably burned the calories in a slice of our French bread, but definitely not those in the caramel fudge brownie dessert. Bummer. And while it’s easy to underestimate how many calories some foods contain, it’s also easy to overestimate how many calories we burn while exercising. Double bummer. Even if you exercise a fair amount, it’s not carte blanche to eat whatever you want. (Unless you exercise a ton, have the metabolism of a 16-year-old boy, and really can eat whatever you want).

A report investigating the commonly-held beliefs about exercising, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, concludes that although exercise does burn calories during and after exercise, for overweight persons, “excessive caloric expenditure has limited implications for substantially reducing body weight independent of nutritional modifications.” In other words, to lose weight, you have to cut calories and increase exercise.

3. You do have time to exercise.
If you have time to check email, watch a sitcom or two, surf the Internet, have drinks, coffee and dinner with friends, go clothes shopping, and on and on, then you have time to exercise. Yes, sometimes you have to sacrifice social, TV, or leisure time to fit it in. Yes, sometimes you have to prioritize your exercise time over other things. But your health and the feeling you get after working out is well worth it.

4. Eating more of something won’t help you lose weight.
The food industry is keen to latch onto weight loss research and spin it for their sales purposes. A prime example is the widespread claim that eating more dairy products will help you lose weight. However, a recent review of 49 clinical trials from 1966 to 2007 showed that “neither dairy nor calcium supplements helped people lose weight.” This idea—that eating more of a certain type of product will help you lose weight—is constantly regurgitated on supermarket shelves (think low-fat cake, low-carb crackers, whole grain cookies, and fat-free chips), but is in direct opposition to the basic idea behind weight loss—that we have to eat less, not more.

5. Calories in = calories out?
There is a fair amount of controversy over the basic question of how people gain weight. Is it simply a matter of energy intake being greater than energy expenditure? Or is there more too it; do the type of calories we eat matter and can avoiding certain types help to lose or prevent weight? The various low-fat, low-carb, and glycemic index advocates can’t seem to agree on which it is.

However, most can agree, and logical sense would tell us, that drinking 500 calories of soda is not equal to eating 500 calories of fruits and vegetables. One is simply “empty” calories—those that provide no real nutritional benefit and don’t do much to combat hunger. Whether you ascribe to the simple idea of trying to burn more calories than you take in or focus on avoiding certain types of calories, you want to minimize intake of empty calories, and maximize nutrient-dense calories.

6. Your body is working against you.
Most people have noticed that it’s hard to lose weight, but easy to gain it. This is a relic of harder times, when food was not as abundant as it is today. Our genetic taste buds made energy-dense food desirable because it was necessary to pack away calories so we could make it through the thin times. We feasted when we could, in preparation for the famine. But now that we live in a time of abundance, that system predisposes many of us for weight gain and retention. And for obese dieters, this system is even harder to overcome; after weight loss, they become better at storing fat, making it harder to keep weight off. However, this isn’t to say that many haven’t lost weight and kept it off successfully. It just means you have to be diligent.

7. Our cultural environment is also working against you. Let’s face it, modern society does not make it easy on those trying to eat healthfully and exercise. According to Linda Bacon, associate professor of nutrition at University of California at Davis, “We get a tremendous amount of pressure to eat for reasons other than nurturing ourselves, and over time, people lose sensitivity to hunger/fullness/appetite signals meant to keep them healthy and well nourished. It’s hard for people to come to a healthy sense of themselves given the cultural climate, and nutritious and pleasurable options for healthy food are not as easily accessible as less nutritious (ones).”

That doesn’t mean this can’t be overcome, but it does require maybe putting other parts of your life on a “diet.” TV would be the biggest culprit, since many food advertisements, especially for children’s junk food, come during this time. Other areas to put on a “diet” are chain and fast food restaurants (where portion sizes are distorted), a bad-influence friend, or driving, which may help increase walking and biking.

8. Maybe you don’t need to lose weight. Some feel that the medical problems associated with excess weight are exaggerated. Gina Kolata, a New York Times science writer questions the notion that thin is a realistic or necessary objective for most. In her book, Rethinking Thin, she asserts that weight loss is an unachievable goal for many, and that losing weight isn’t so much about health as it is about money, trends, and impossible ideals. Recent research also challenges the idea that being overweight is bad. A study in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that being 25 pounds overweight did not increase the risk of heart disease and cancer, and may even help stave off infections.

It’s true that people can be fit and healthy and not necessarily be thin, just as it’s true that thin people may not necessarily be healthy. Good health, rather than weight, should be our focus; too often, it’s not. Striving for an unhealthy level of thinness may be detrimental to our health, but understanding the health repercussions of obesity is also critical.

9. This is not a diet; this is your life.
The diet industry would have us all think that we can lose weight fast, and that’s that. But most people who maintain their weight understand that eating and exercising are not temporary conditions, to be dumped once a pair of jeans fit. Instead, they are lifestyle choices, and ones to be made for the long haul.

Monday evening

I walked on the TM for 25 minutes Monday night. Not very fast, but at least I did it. Tonight I may not do any TM cuz I have a splitting headache from training!!

Weekend Confession

I must confess, I didn't do diddly squat this past weekend. I did clean the main level of my house, which did get me sweating. But as for exercising, I was a total slacker. I haven't even done one mile on the TM yet so I'm nowhere ready for 4 miles like the rabbits & snails groups suggest. I hope to get my rear back on track this week. I pulled something in my lover left back on Thurs. evening and was in pain from that all weekend. I was using heating pad and that helped. It's still a little sore, but hopefully tonight I will work through it. Here it is almost mid-January and I've been a bum.

Weekend Workout-First Basketball Practice

I had my first basketball practice of the season Saturday. Since I've been been exercising pretty regularly, I thought it would be easy--wrong!

My poor body was not ready for sprinting up and down the court. Now I need to adjust my workouts to include short sprints, while maintaining my distance schedule, to get into shape for the season.

I woke up Sunday to aching arms and stomach muscles. Despite the soreness, I went to the gym to do a 4-mile workout, per instructions from the half marathon group. I ran it in 47 minutes. The group recommends doing 2 4-mile runs and 1 8-mile run a week. Right now my brain is fried trying to figure out how to fit it in, along with short sprints!

Also let me add that it is painful and boring to run 4 miles on a treadmill. I wish it wasn't snowing so I could go outside! I thought I would never reach the end.

My workout schedule for this week is going to be: *UPDATE 1/20)
Sunday--ran 4 miles
Monday--short sprints
Tuesday--strength training, pilates

The Scales

There was a woman who thought she had lost weight. She was out on the town, felt great, treated herself to dessert, etc. Then got on the scales and found out she had gained. She then was totally miserable, sunk, beating herself up, went from fabulous to horrible. Then someone told her the scales were off and she was on top of cloud nine again.

Great example of the interpretation of things and what it does to you. Throw out your scales. But you say, HOW will I know what I weigh? Because it is your body. Because you live in it. Because you know how you feel in it. Because your clothes feel different when you are at a different weight. You don't need a lifeless piece of machinery to tell you whether you are allowed to have a good day or a bad day, whether you are allowed to feel proud or ashamed of yourself. You get to decide.

It seems to be built into the weight loss drama that a high number on the scale translates to misery and a low number on the scale translates to euphoria, so a first step to self worth is to stop engaging in what makes you feel bad.

Ignore those stinking scales!!

MY 2009 GOALS

I want to write down my goals, not only here but also in a notepad I review daily. This will be an ongoing blog for me.

Exercise at least FIVE DAYS per week, for minimum of 30 mins -- working up to 45-60.

Do daily exercises for spine

Walk in half mile marathon (or 5K animal walk) in May

Not focus so much on the number on the scales!!!

Live consciously -- eat, spend, etc. Trying not to walk thru life mindlessly.

Maybe -- just maybe -- go on a date?? (MAYBE)

Week One

My week really didn't start until yesterday (Wed.). I did 25-30 mins. I did a 5 min. warm up from my Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD, then walked on the TM 15 mins., then did ball exercises and band exercises (for my back when I was doing PT).

I didn't want to do too much so that I would be really sore, since that might lead me to give up or put it off until the soreness went away. Since I've been inactive for so long, I'm going to start slow. But not too slow.

Week 1 Activity So Far

My week 1 activity to date:

Sunday--30 minutes on elliptical, 15 minutes (1 minute on, 30 seconds off) steps and weights
Monday--30 minutes Nike Human Race IPOD workshop, which was about 2.5 miles
Tuesday--45 minutes strength training, 45 minutes Pilates
Wednesday--Off
Thursday--45 weight lifting on ball

To keep myself on track, I put a big E on my calendar each day I exercise. I total them up at the end of each month and I must make myself exercise more than half the days in a month... so for January I need to exercise 17 times.

Last year, I exercised 243 days out of the year.

Trying to Lose Some Pounds!

My friends and I have to decided to blog about our attempt to lose weight in the New Year. We figure if we post and keep each other updated, we will stay motivated and be held accountable. This is all leading up to us participating in the Commit to Be Fit Half Marathon that we will attempt in May.

Stay tuned!