Well, for those of you wondering what I have been doing the last couple of weeks, I apologize. I have ran 30 minutes twice in the last two weeks, and that's about it. I have been battling several illnesses, which all started two weeks ago with a simple cold, which turned into what I believe was a sinus infection, then was proceeded by a headache for 4 days. Then on Friday, I was actually taken to the hospital because my hands went numb, I was extremely dizzy, and I was vomiting. It was concluded that I had a combination of a migraine and a viral infection (which I am told is what they say when they don't know what's wrong with you). After that little episode, I have finally decided to let my body really rest and start again when I am healthy.
So please pray that over the next week I can recover from all these illnesses and start again on my half marathon training. Thank you to all who support me!
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Don't cut out your favorite foods. If you aren't eating what you like to eat, then you'll be a lot more likely to fail. Instead, see if you can find lower calorie alternatives, or portion out your foods so you know exactly how many calories you are eating.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Week 9 - Day 1
Okay, so I know it has been more than a week since my last post. I completely derailed over the weekend and did not run much. I also ate a ton and felt terrible by Sunday. I got on the scale Sunday morning and was SHOCKED to see that I had gained 7 pounds since the start of the holidays. This was 3 pounds more than what I weighed just after Christmas! I was NOT happy and decided I needed to get back in gear by going to the gym. I got a pretty good workout - though I only ran a mile. I walked uphill and did the elliptical machine the rest of the time. I wanted to ease back into things, yet get a good enough workout to burn some serious calories.
Thankfully it must have just been a freak incident with the scale because two days later I weighed myself again and was down 4 pounds, yesterday down 1 pound, and today down another pound. So if you do the math, I'm only 1 pound heavier than when the holidays started back in the beginning of December. YAY! This is a PERFECT example of how the scale can sometimes LIE to you and toy with your emotions. I was so upset on Sunday after seeing those numbers - but of course it did kick me back into gear, so perhaps it wasn't all bad.
Tuesday I went back to the gym. I did get my 30 minutes in, but I ended up walking some of it. I went to the gym right after I ate dinner and struggled through a really bad side cramp. I'm just going to have to make sure I don't eat right before running, because it really sabotages my efforts. I ran about a mile and a half total, walking the rest. Lets hope the next run goes better!
WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Get Support. Having a support person or group can really have a positive effect on your efforts. Two years ago my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I decided we would have a race to see who could lose the most weight. This is what kick started my weight loss efforts. I just needed a little support and accountability to keep me on track. From there I learned a lot about eating healthy and exercising, and got to the point where it was no longer difficult to keep losing weight. Now I have my husband for support, and as he starts on his own weight loss journey, I hope to be a support for him.
Thankfully it must have just been a freak incident with the scale because two days later I weighed myself again and was down 4 pounds, yesterday down 1 pound, and today down another pound. So if you do the math, I'm only 1 pound heavier than when the holidays started back in the beginning of December. YAY! This is a PERFECT example of how the scale can sometimes LIE to you and toy with your emotions. I was so upset on Sunday after seeing those numbers - but of course it did kick me back into gear, so perhaps it wasn't all bad.
Tuesday I went back to the gym. I did get my 30 minutes in, but I ended up walking some of it. I went to the gym right after I ate dinner and struggled through a really bad side cramp. I'm just going to have to make sure I don't eat right before running, because it really sabotages my efforts. I ran about a mile and a half total, walking the rest. Lets hope the next run goes better!
WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Get Support. Having a support person or group can really have a positive effect on your efforts. Two years ago my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I decided we would have a race to see who could lose the most weight. This is what kick started my weight loss efforts. I just needed a little support and accountability to keep me on track. From there I learned a lot about eating healthy and exercising, and got to the point where it was no longer difficult to keep losing weight. Now I have my husband for support, and as he starts on his own weight loss journey, I hope to be a support for him.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
WEEK 7 AND WEEK 8 - DAY 1
I am combining all of last week into one entry because lets face it, the holidays were here and I was a very busy person! I was able to get some exercising in, and did do some running. I had full intentions of running 7 miles this past weekend, but just could not find the time to do it! I know this is a terrible excuse, but it is what it is. It just goes to show that even though I'm motivated, I too get off track and just don't always get my exercising in.
The good news that comes from the previous week was that I only ended up gaining 4 pounds total and pretty much ate whatever I wanted. Thats much better than the 12 pounds I had gained last Christmas. =) The exercise was a big factor for why I didn't gain as much this year. Last year not only was I eating what I wanted, but also wasn't exercising. I'm expecting my weight to drop back down pretty quickly since I have now gotten back into routine and am running more again. I've decided that I would like to lose 10 more pounds by the Half Marathon - RunnersWorld says you have a faster pace for each pound you lose. That doesn't seem unreasonable, though it has gotten a lot harder to lose the weight.
Yesterday I went to the gym with my sister-in-law and worked out for about an hour. We went right after dinner, so I was dreading trying to push through the side cramps (I get side cramps if I try to run right after eating). It wasn't too bad though, and even though I got some cramping, it wasn't bad enough to hinder my workout. I went 2.55 miles in 30 minutes, which is slower than my last 30 minute run, but not bad considering I just spent four days eating everything in sight. =)
I am going to exercise every day this week and will probably do my next 30 minute run on Wednesday rather than Thursday. I would like to burn a lot of calories for New Year's Eve so I'll most likely go to the gym and workout on the elliptical for 60 minutes. That machine seems to burn the most calories for me. Depending on the weather, I want to run outside again for my long run this week, though I don't think I'm going to attempt to run on 202 anymore. There are just too many cars and the road slopes, which causes one foot to constantly be at an angle. My right knee was pretty sore at the end as a result.
I've decided to change my current gym to the Planet Fitness in Sanford rather than Dover. It was working out very well for me to drop the kids off at daycare, then go to the gym near my work, but now that I have to drive into Sanford, it makes more sense to drop him off, go to the gym, then drive to work. So if any of you want to do early morning workouts at the gym, I'll probably be there!
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Its all about the calories! No matter what diet you try, or what you eat, it all comes down to calories. A lot of people tell me they are trying to cut out this or that - such as carbs or sugar or soda - and although these things can affect you (sugar can give you a high, then your body crashes), it really all comes down to the calories. The reason you lose weight if you cut out sugar is because you're cutting out calories. There are two scenarios: You can eat grilled chicken, a baked potato, and broccoli for 350 calories. You can also go right down the street to your local Dairy Queen and get yourself a sundae for the same 350 calories. In terms of weight loss, which is better? The first scenario seems like it would be better for you (and to some extent that is true because it will keep you full longer and there are more nutrients) but in terms of WEIGHT LOSS, they are considered the same. It's just that if you choose the sundae, you are more likely to be hungrier sooner and eat more overall.
The good news that comes from the previous week was that I only ended up gaining 4 pounds total and pretty much ate whatever I wanted. Thats much better than the 12 pounds I had gained last Christmas. =) The exercise was a big factor for why I didn't gain as much this year. Last year not only was I eating what I wanted, but also wasn't exercising. I'm expecting my weight to drop back down pretty quickly since I have now gotten back into routine and am running more again. I've decided that I would like to lose 10 more pounds by the Half Marathon - RunnersWorld says you have a faster pace for each pound you lose. That doesn't seem unreasonable, though it has gotten a lot harder to lose the weight.
Yesterday I went to the gym with my sister-in-law and worked out for about an hour. We went right after dinner, so I was dreading trying to push through the side cramps (I get side cramps if I try to run right after eating). It wasn't too bad though, and even though I got some cramping, it wasn't bad enough to hinder my workout. I went 2.55 miles in 30 minutes, which is slower than my last 30 minute run, but not bad considering I just spent four days eating everything in sight. =)
I am going to exercise every day this week and will probably do my next 30 minute run on Wednesday rather than Thursday. I would like to burn a lot of calories for New Year's Eve so I'll most likely go to the gym and workout on the elliptical for 60 minutes. That machine seems to burn the most calories for me. Depending on the weather, I want to run outside again for my long run this week, though I don't think I'm going to attempt to run on 202 anymore. There are just too many cars and the road slopes, which causes one foot to constantly be at an angle. My right knee was pretty sore at the end as a result.
I've decided to change my current gym to the Planet Fitness in Sanford rather than Dover. It was working out very well for me to drop the kids off at daycare, then go to the gym near my work, but now that I have to drive into Sanford, it makes more sense to drop him off, go to the gym, then drive to work. So if any of you want to do early morning workouts at the gym, I'll probably be there!
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Its all about the calories! No matter what diet you try, or what you eat, it all comes down to calories. A lot of people tell me they are trying to cut out this or that - such as carbs or sugar or soda - and although these things can affect you (sugar can give you a high, then your body crashes), it really all comes down to the calories. The reason you lose weight if you cut out sugar is because you're cutting out calories. There are two scenarios: You can eat grilled chicken, a baked potato, and broccoli for 350 calories. You can also go right down the street to your local Dairy Queen and get yourself a sundae for the same 350 calories. In terms of weight loss, which is better? The first scenario seems like it would be better for you (and to some extent that is true because it will keep you full longer and there are more nutrients) but in terms of WEIGHT LOSS, they are considered the same. It's just that if you choose the sundae, you are more likely to be hungrier sooner and eat more overall.
Monday, December 21, 2009
WEEK 6 - DAY 3
My Saturday run was AWSOME! I never thought I'd say running was awsome, but it really was! I decided that I was going to attempt to run outside - and I must say I was quite nervous because I thought I would struggle with it since I have been primarily using the treadmill. But to my surprise I was able to run 6.58 miles without a problem! It made me feel a lot better about using the treadmill for my training during the winter.
It was about 30 degrees out when I was running and I actually didn't even notice! I wore a long sleeve shirt and a fleece-lined windbreaker, a pair of leggings, and a pair of yoga pants over that. I also wore a hat and mittens. When I first started running I was a bit chilly, but I warmed up quickly and it was quite comfortable. I even ended up taking my mittens off about half way through because my hands were too warm. I think I'm going to start running outside more now that I know it's not as uncomfortable as I imagined.
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Just because you exercised, doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want. This is such a hard mindset to break free of. I know for me, I like to reward myself with food after I exercise, and that can sometimes backfire on all my hard work. I've especially been struggling with this one the last couple of weekends. I'll eat whatever I want on Saturday because it was my long run and burned 900 calories. Then I'll just continue right into Sunday, and before I know it, I've gone right over those 900 calories and then some. Its VERY easy to do.
It was about 30 degrees out when I was running and I actually didn't even notice! I wore a long sleeve shirt and a fleece-lined windbreaker, a pair of leggings, and a pair of yoga pants over that. I also wore a hat and mittens. When I first started running I was a bit chilly, but I warmed up quickly and it was quite comfortable. I even ended up taking my mittens off about half way through because my hands were too warm. I think I'm going to start running outside more now that I know it's not as uncomfortable as I imagined.
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Just because you exercised, doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want. This is such a hard mindset to break free of. I know for me, I like to reward myself with food after I exercise, and that can sometimes backfire on all my hard work. I've especially been struggling with this one the last couple of weekends. I'll eat whatever I want on Saturday because it was my long run and burned 900 calories. Then I'll just continue right into Sunday, and before I know it, I've gone right over those 900 calories and then some. Its VERY easy to do.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Week 6 - Day 2
Yes, I once again missed running on Tuesday. Its the holidays and I'm having a hard time juggling all these things I have to do! Anyways, now that I have gotten the excuses out of the way... I had a really good run today and finished the 30 minutes with 2.63 miles, which beat my time last week. YAY! My runkeeper says my pace was 11.24 min per mile.
In reading an article recently I am now motivated to start running outside. The article mentioned ways to keep warm while running in the winter and the clothing you should do it in. Take a look at the article here: www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267-269-12420-0,00.html. Why I haven't really wanted to run outside was because I wasn't sure what clothing I should wear, as well as the fact that I just don't like being cold. I'm thinking though, if I have the appropriate clothing, it won't bother me as much as I think. I'm going to take a look at some stores and see what I can find. Some things they mention I already have, its mostly just the first layer - like the "tights" they refer to and the long sleeve shirts with "technical fabrics" that wick sweat away from you - that I really need to buy. It seems like these would be the most important pieces to keep dry while still keeping warm. If any of you runners out there have suggestions as to what I should get, please feel free to comment.
The Disney Princess Half Marathon is now 65% full! I was quite surprised at how fast it is approaching! I read more on the discussion boards on Facebook about others' experiences and so many people have mentioned mile 11/12 as being the most difficult, because it involves going up those on/off ramps on the highway. I'll have to make sure I am prepared for that once I get into running the 10-12 mile runs. Maybe I can incorporate some hills in the last miles to simulate how it will be on the actual run.
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Drink Coffee or Tea - I know this seems like a strange tip, and may not work for everyone, but for me it worked VERY well. I like drinking coffee for several reasons. The most obvious is because it gives me more energy throughout the day (they actually recommend you drinking a cup of coffee half an hour before you run too). The other reason is because it seems to keep me feeling full and there are very little calories involved if you use Splenda and sugar free creamers. Even if you use an individual packet of Half and Half, its still only 20 calories.
In reading an article recently I am now motivated to start running outside. The article mentioned ways to keep warm while running in the winter and the clothing you should do it in. Take a look at the article here: www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267-269-12420-0,00.html. Why I haven't really wanted to run outside was because I wasn't sure what clothing I should wear, as well as the fact that I just don't like being cold. I'm thinking though, if I have the appropriate clothing, it won't bother me as much as I think. I'm going to take a look at some stores and see what I can find. Some things they mention I already have, its mostly just the first layer - like the "tights" they refer to and the long sleeve shirts with "technical fabrics" that wick sweat away from you - that I really need to buy. It seems like these would be the most important pieces to keep dry while still keeping warm. If any of you runners out there have suggestions as to what I should get, please feel free to comment.
The Disney Princess Half Marathon is now 65% full! I was quite surprised at how fast it is approaching! I read more on the discussion boards on Facebook about others' experiences and so many people have mentioned mile 11/12 as being the most difficult, because it involves going up those on/off ramps on the highway. I'll have to make sure I am prepared for that once I get into running the 10-12 mile runs. Maybe I can incorporate some hills in the last miles to simulate how it will be on the actual run.
WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Drink Coffee or Tea - I know this seems like a strange tip, and may not work for everyone, but for me it worked VERY well. I like drinking coffee for several reasons. The most obvious is because it gives me more energy throughout the day (they actually recommend you drinking a cup of coffee half an hour before you run too). The other reason is because it seems to keep me feeling full and there are very little calories involved if you use Splenda and sugar free creamers. Even if you use an individual packet of Half and Half, its still only 20 calories.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Week 5 - Day 3
I ran 6 miles today on the treadmill! There were no interuptions, no crises to rush home for, nothing! :) There were several things I observed during my run:
I can now run 3 miles without too much effort - it's just a matter of keeping my mind occupied
The Gu stuff that's supposed to energize you during long runs wasn't all that helpful. Plus it was pretty nasty to gulp down.
The fourth mile wasn't too bad, but the fifth and sixth miles were pretty tough. That was the time when my mind wanted to tell me I couldn't go anymore. It's great to be aware of when my mind does that because that's when I start telling myself I CAN do it. It kind of counteracts what my mind wants to say and being able to do that is crucial to me being able to run for so long. I can't believe that something so simple can work so well!
It's weird to be running and watch people come and go - there were a couple of women that came in and started around the same time I did, and stopped walking after 20 minutes. Not that there is anything wrong with that because any exercise is good, its just a very different perspective than im used to. That was me a year ago actually and I remember seeing people that would run thinking they're crazy. Now I'm the crazy one I guess. :)
WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Any exercise is better than no exercise! Even if you can squeeze in just 10 minutes here or there, just incorporating it into your schedule really makes a difference. That 10 minutes can give you an extra 100 calories for the day!
I can now run 3 miles without too much effort - it's just a matter of keeping my mind occupied
The Gu stuff that's supposed to energize you during long runs wasn't all that helpful. Plus it was pretty nasty to gulp down.
The fourth mile wasn't too bad, but the fifth and sixth miles were pretty tough. That was the time when my mind wanted to tell me I couldn't go anymore. It's great to be aware of when my mind does that because that's when I start telling myself I CAN do it. It kind of counteracts what my mind wants to say and being able to do that is crucial to me being able to run for so long. I can't believe that something so simple can work so well!
It's weird to be running and watch people come and go - there were a couple of women that came in and started around the same time I did, and stopped walking after 20 minutes. Not that there is anything wrong with that because any exercise is good, its just a very different perspective than im used to. That was me a year ago actually and I remember seeing people that would run thinking they're crazy. Now I'm the crazy one I guess. :)
WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Any exercise is better than no exercise! Even if you can squeeze in just 10 minutes here or there, just incorporating it into your schedule really makes a difference. That 10 minutes can give you an extra 100 calories for the day!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Week 5 - Day 2
If you're wondering why I did not post for Week 5 - Day 1, it is because I did not end up running that day. I've come to realize that sometimes life just gets in the way, no matter how much you plan. But I've also realized that I can put that behind me and continue on.
Yesterday I did my 30 minute run on the treadmill and was able to run 2.5 miles - the farthest I've been able to run in a 30 minute span. I also incorporated hills this time, and also ran at speeds of 5.5 to 5.7 mph for short periods of time during the workout. I really felt great, even at the end - which doesn't usually happen for me. Usually by the end I am exhausted. I'm also noticing that my recovery time is becoming shorter and shorter and I don't become fatigued as easy.
Its good to know that even if you miss out on a workout, you are still able to bounce back. That was my biggest worry - that if I missed a workout that I would lose momentum and lose the strength I've been building. For some reason I was in the mindset that even though it takes awhile to be able to workout for long periods of time, you could lose it quickly. That is just not the case and I'm so glad!
WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Measure everything! At least at first - I know when I started measuring it was a pain! But it made me feel much better knowing EXACTLY how much I was eating. It also made me realize how much MORE I was eating than I should. Its really a wake up call. After awhile you get used to it, and can start to visualize how much you really should be eating. Pretty soon you'll be able to look at food and know how much you should eat without using the measuring cups and spoons.
Yesterday I did my 30 minute run on the treadmill and was able to run 2.5 miles - the farthest I've been able to run in a 30 minute span. I also incorporated hills this time, and also ran at speeds of 5.5 to 5.7 mph for short periods of time during the workout. I really felt great, even at the end - which doesn't usually happen for me. Usually by the end I am exhausted. I'm also noticing that my recovery time is becoming shorter and shorter and I don't become fatigued as easy.
Its good to know that even if you miss out on a workout, you are still able to bounce back. That was my biggest worry - that if I missed a workout that I would lose momentum and lose the strength I've been building. For some reason I was in the mindset that even though it takes awhile to be able to workout for long periods of time, you could lose it quickly. That is just not the case and I'm so glad!
WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Measure everything! At least at first - I know when I started measuring it was a pain! But it made me feel much better knowing EXACTLY how much I was eating. It also made me realize how much MORE I was eating than I should. Its really a wake up call. After awhile you get used to it, and can start to visualize how much you really should be eating. Pretty soon you'll be able to look at food and know how much you should eat without using the measuring cups and spoons.
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