10K!!! Yay but oh no no no

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Last night I decided that it was time to see if I could run 10K. As you can probably already tell, I managed to do it in 1 hour and 16 minutes. The time wasn't great but speed wasn't the goal to achieve - the miles were the important part... Yay! I finally did 10K! It's an amazing achievement since I have been running for around around four months, never been able to run one mile before on other occasions. It is amazing what the body can do when you get the mental part in the right order.

Seeing that we have about 6 inches of snow and no one around to plow the roads in our city, I reluctantly walked to the gym and jumped on the treadmill. As I walked in the door a newbie was there and trying to figure out how to work the temperature gauge - it was around 54 degrees indoors! Brrrr... So, after I gently told her it was always cold or too warm in the gym - she gradually started her beginner workout. It was nice to help out a newbie and feel as though I wasn't the only one starting out in my workout journey. I jumped on the treadmill and plugged myself into the wonderful Japanese music from my Ipod Shuffle. Freezing I really had to start with a slower speed than normal and gradually work myself into the proper speed. About one mile in the run, I decided that if I was going to get anywhere I had to shed some layers and work on that speed. I got up to a normal 11-12/min/mile speed and start running like normal. Yes, I can do 8min/miles however today was the day to work on length.

About 3.5 miles into the run I started the mental workout of - should I stop at 5k or keeping going limbo that I generally do each run. Thankfully the better part of me won the mental race and I decided that if I was ever going to run a half or full marathon one day, I was going to have to push my body to higher levels of physical ability. It was at this time I started to feel the heat start to rise. At first I thought that it was just me however my husband finally reached the gym around 4 miles and he was amazed at how hot it was in the gym. As we were running, we felt the hot gusts of air coming from the heating vents above us... I was determined though and kept on. My husband was happy with a little more time on the treadmill also since he was playing with the new Garmin 405CX. haha

6.2 miles later I was finally finished and sweating - strangely though I wasn't sweating as much as normal. I think the heat was turning the moisture into vapor - yes it really was that hot! I sat down after the run to let my heart beat come back to a normal pace a little faster... it wasn't until this time my husband looked at the temperature gauge - it was around 74 degrees! That means we were working out while the hot air was pushing itself down on our cold winter-regulated bodies.

Back home to the showers and time to get dressed in comfy clothes and to make dinner. It was at this time that I started to feel the pain from running such a long distance in a hot temperature. I started to get what I believe was "exercise-induced nausea". I am hypoglycemic so this was a major warning flag waving in front of me... my husband ran to the fridge and thankfully he had bought a coke the other day and hadn't drunk the whole thing. Coke to the rescue... one little gulp and I was feeling better in minutes. Thank goodness!

Unfortunately I was under the weather from the lower blood sugar levels the whole night. I'm not 100% sure why the lower levels or even if that was the case for my sickness but I'm learning from my mistake. I am ready to eat more sugar before a long run and not anticipating such hot weather in the gym again. Maybe it was me pushing my body too much, but then again I do not feel pain in the body before or after and neither do I know.

Life is interesting and I'm glad to finally be starting "Life 101".

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

VEGGIE-FITNESS 2/9/2010 10:49AM

Great job! It feels good to win that mental part of the workout, right? And you got the mileage in even thought the heat was blowing on you...that would've driven me crazy! I'm glad you're ok. Hope you feel better this morning! Thank you for the blog!! Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGIRL06 2/9/2010 10:41AM

Wow sounds like a great run! I have a hard time pushing through the mental block too. It always comes around 3 miles. I will remember your story next time I'm supposed to be doing a long run and I hit that wall:) And icky for the temperature changes. That couldn't have helped you feeling sick either. Maybe that's what caused it. I've gotten sick after runs before but its rare so that is good. Hope you feel better today!!! ~Ang Report Inappropriate Comment

Another Must Watch!!!

Friday, February 05, 2010

Not only am I addicted to Hello Kitty, I am addicted to weight loss shows by BBC. I should have been a dietitian instead of a translator/ghost writer I think...haha Not only am I addicted to "You are What you Eat", "My Big Fat Diet Show" but now I have another one to add to the list. Unfortunately I do not have BBC America at home so I have to watch everything online or wait until everything comes out on DVD. So I'm not sure if this movie is new but it is amazing! If you want to know more about health and how to lose weight, watch "Why are Thin People Not Fat". It is online of course and therefore it is free to watch! It is a must see if you want to know more about your body and feel good about what you are doing - basically beating the odds with losing weight! It's not as easy as eating right and exercising, as we all can attest to, and here are some amazing scientist study finds that prove what we all know!!! It's very motivational!

Okay, I'm starving now so I'm off to eat another healthy, low-calorie lunch while watching "How to Be Slim" by BBC!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUGIRL06 2/5/2010 3:26PM

It says its not available!!! :( Nevermind! Found it on youtube :) Comment edited on: 2/5/2010 3:29:30 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

ELISEL 2/5/2010 1:52PM

Thanks for the info. I love "You are what you Eat" I don't agree with everything she says but she's hilarious and gets these people on the right track. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGIRL06 2/5/2010 1:21PM

Are all the shows on the BBC website? I can look forward to watching 2 episodes of you are what you eat tomorrow on TV but I will be snowed in with nothing to do for the rest of the day! ~Ang Report Inappropriate Comment

FRANKIEKNIGHT1 2/5/2010 12:42PM

I'm addicted to Chopped on food network. I go to Curves and the owner of my curves is a small women. She has just as much trouble gaining weight as we do loosing weight. When she is upset or emotional she can't eat. When I'm emotional I can eat. Her problems are like mine just on a different body type. I use to look at her and wish I had her body. But know that I know more about her weight problem I'll keep mine and just make it look better in time. Report Inappropriate Comment

Motivating/Educational Videos for Fun!

Thursday, February 04, 2010

This week has been a hard one, thanks to the lovely part of being a woman, so I have been seeking out motivational things to get me in the mood for stronger workouts next week. I absolutely love to watch You Are What you Eat on BBC (well, on you tube). As I was looking up some recipes for next week I came across a new series on BBC 4 called "My Big Fat Diet Club"! I love it! Basically it shows everything that us here at Sparkpeople already should know and be practicing but it really puts more into prospective when you watch someone else do the diet and exercise plans. I highly suggest it! There are a few episodes on you tube right now... www.youtube.com/user/annawillpower#g
/a
Are you ready for Chinese New Years?

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

K-DIVA 2/4/2010 9:03AM

Thanks for sharing. I am going to check it out. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGIRL06 2/4/2010 8:50AM

Favorite show ever! (You are what you eat). I will check out the other show tonight when I'm at home! Thanks! ~Ang PS. I'm looking forward to being snowed in this weekend, baking bran muffins, BBC on the tv! Report Inappropriate Comment

Motivation; Am I Strange?

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

I was just reading an article written about motivation here on the site. It was about positive reinforcement that all of us should be giving ourselves during our workouts and life changes. I think I'm strange though because I do the exact opposite... When I'm working out I'm like an evil boot camp instructor, yelling at myself and telling myself that if I want to lose the "chubby bunny buns" I have to run another mile or go faster... Yes, I do this quietly inside my head - otherwise I might get kicked out of the gym... does anyone do this too? hmmmm

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

SUGIRL06 2/2/2010 5:49PM

Haha. You aren't strange! I tell myself I'm not allowed to quit or stop. That I have to do it! Think like not doing your homework. Yeah you could not do it but then you FAIL and do you want to fail? NO! So you're not that crazy! ~Ang Report Inappropriate Comment

MYSCHYF 2/2/2010 3:47PM

No it's normal. I'm sure after you do push that extra mile or so your quite happy and tell yourself you've done a good job. Sometimes we need a kick in the pants, sometimes we need to forgive ourselves when we mess up and sometimes we need to reward ourselves when we do good. We are afterall just kids at heart. Report Inappropriate Comment

LISSA1976 2/2/2010 3:46PM

No, I am like you so maybe we are strange together. I get very competitive with others (who have no idea they are competing with me) in the gym. I even spin with my eyes closed at moments to focus and visualize those smaller body parts, pushing myself harder. Of course my instructor also does a good job of yelling at us like a cheerleader on crack too. LOL Heck, I even repeat the line from the Lily Allen song in my head "Everything is cool as long as I'm getting thinner"... I say go with what works for you. But I will say, that after it is all over, I congratulate myself too, and do my little inside pep talk. So that is my positive moment I suppose. Comment edited on: 2/2/2010 3:53:32 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

SPEEDWACER 2/2/2010 3:45PM

I totally do that. Coming from anyone else, I would punch someone in the mouth for saying things that I say to myself all the time. I do it most while I'm running. A car will drive by, and I'll say to myself "Hey, the guy in that car wants to see you fail, are you going to give him the satisfaction?" Hell no I'm not. Report Inappropriate Comment

KIMSCCR7 2/2/2010 3:44PM

I agree with the music. Upbeat music gives me an extra spring in my step but when I'm running I'm always more like yelling at myself. I always think, really you're tired already that's not very good is it. I beat myself up so I get mad and run longer or faster. So no you're not very strange. Report Inappropriate Comment

WHYNOTROCKIT 2/2/2010 3:30PM

I have to admit that I do. I don't do it all the time, but it helps me to work harder. I also find that fast paced music gets me to work hard too. Without that I don't think I would work as hard. I find that the more a push myself to do better, I do. Not to mention I like to work towards my 10 pound rewards. I say if it helps you in the long run why not!! Report Inappropriate Comment

IMVEGAN 2/2/2010 3:28PM

Yes, you are definitely strange! LOL Good for you though. That is a great kind of strange to be. Report Inappropriate Comment

Remember to Eat...

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

I've been a little un-motivated lately so I decided that I would take a few extra minutes today and look around at other blogs here on S.P. It sometimes motivates me when I see other people losing weight and I am not... reminds me that I need to get my butt to the gym. haha

I feel a little angry, confused and cheated though by another members' blog. I noticed that she is encouraged to lose weight for her wedding that will be this year. Wonderful! I love the idea of wanting to look wonderful for your future spouse. Unfortunately I am not sure that is the case for all people, looking good in a dress is more important for the special day. But that is another pet peeve of mine... haha My issue that I had a problem with seeing was this dieter was eating around 600-900 calories a day.

If you know my personal story, I lost weight a few years back very fast because I was eating very few calories a day similar to this dieter. It was hard but I managed thanks to diet shakes and other supplements. My personal image was wonderful but I felt a little under the health after a few months of eating so few calories. I could catch a cold very fast and my body was not up to par as I had wished for working out two hours a day at the time. I have learned from this dieting mistake and hope that no one would ever have to endure through this either.

I just wanted to remind everyone that eating is good for the body. And although you may see the weight scale go down, you will also see a decline in your health if you eat too few of calories. Trust me, you will not survive if you eat only around 600 calories a day! Especially if you are taller than 5 foot! Eating so few calories is a eating disorder, not a diet/health plan. Caution people! Remember health is the most important thing!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ANYATAY10 2/3/2010 4:04PM

Also...you gain the weight right back!! Possibly even more weight than before. I've learned that the hard way as well. For me, it's not only keeping my calorie deficit consistent, but also, eating often throughout the day (before I feel like I'm starving) helps battle the urge to binge eat or reach for unhealthy food. In fact, I'm eating right now even though I don't feel ravenous. Zone Perfect Chocolate Mint bar...mmm... Report Inappropriate Comment

PAPRINIKA 2/2/2010 10:44PM

Good that you know this now and will do it the healthy way! :D Report Inappropriate Comment

HAPPYNSMILING 2/2/2010 9:35AM

Amen to that...I completely agree and I also get upset when I hear of people not taking care of themselves correctly. Everyone needs to read your blog. Report Inappropriate Comment

MARLA_S 2/2/2010 9:32AM

Right you are! We all need to remember that HEALTH is the name of the game, not just the numbers on the scale. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUGIRL06 2/2/2010 9:14AM

You are so right! And its so hard to encourage the person to eat more for their health. Hopefully she will figure it out! Personally, I could never understand how people could eat so little. I love food! And as for wedding motivation, that is great and all but what about after the wedding. What is your motivation to keep it off? I never lost any weight for my wedding (I was actually at my highest) because it wasn't a good motivation for me. I knew it would end and then what? Wanting to be healthy is my motivation! ~Ang Report Inappropriate Comment