Run till you puke?

Friday, April 09, 2010

Earlier today I was walking to the gym with Laila when I saw a guy bent over and leaning against a pole. Worried that he was having a heart attack or something, I crossed the street and approached him to ask if he was OK. He replied that he was all right, he just ran so hard that it made him throw up!

I had seen this on The Biggest Loser but never in real life. "It's been quite a few years since college," he told me. "I'm realizing I'm not in the shape I was back then." I asked him if he was training for a marathon or something. No, he said, but he was training for a position with a law enforcement agency. The weather was sunny but cool (60's and breezy). "Well at least it's not 90 degrees like it's been all week," I said, to which he responded that he ran on those days as well. Yikes! After chatting a few more minutes and making sure he really was OK, I wished him a good day and continued on my way. I sure hope he gets that job, but wow, he should be careful!

My workout today was light. Unlike my new friend, I didn't push myself at all. Forty-five minutes on the elliptical but I barely broke a sweat. I was going to go an hour but I'm glad I didn't because when I walked into the kids area Laila was having a meltdown and they were just about to page me. Tomorrow morning is Body Combat, so I am looking forward to that. I missed yesterday because the little one did not wake up from her nap in time. Adn I missed it Monday night too, I don't remember why.

My eating has not been the greatest this week either. Tracking has been sporadic too. I just had a healthy late lunch and after I finish this blog I will track everything I ate. This is no time to be lazy...I still have a little work to do to get to my pre-pregnancy weight, and then (the hard part) maintaining! I just wonder if there will ever come a time when tracking won't be necessary. After being on Spark for 3 years, I've almost forgotten what it's like to eat something and not write it down. I know some people stop tracking after they hit goal, but I am worried the pounds will creep back up if I don't.

Sparkfriends, if you are at your happy weight, do you track your food every day? Ever worked out so hard you threw up?

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Mind over matter

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

I realize I haven't blogged since my race!!! So, I thought I'd post another blog today while the little one naps. It always helps me to write out some of the thoughts that swirl around in my head along this "healthy living" journey.

Lately I've been thinking about how powerful the mind is when it comes to convincing yourself you can do something. AND the opposite is true as well. I've talked about this topic with a couple Spark friends this week. I believe our bodies are capable of so much more than our minds sometimes give them credit for.

For example: Back when I was new to Body Pump, I spent months lifting the lightest weight available - not even trying to go heavier. I looked around at all these other women, smaller than me, lifting what looked like huge weights and thinking WOW, I would probably fall over if I attempted those. I felt like a wimp but thought, "I can't do that yet." One day I was chatting with the instructor before class and she asked what weight I use for squats (most people can go higher for squats b/c you're using a larger muscle group.) I was embarrassed to say I used the same light weight throughout. She looked at me like "what????" "You can do it!" she said to me. So I tried it, and of course I could go higher. I wonder how long I would have continued to deprive myself of a good workout by listening the limitations my mind set for me.

More recently, I proved to myself that I could run 6 miles without stopping. Yet the other day on the treadmill I was beat after running 2, and I had to stop and walk. There was that little voice in my head again, telling me I was tired, I can't do it. Blah blah blah. I've got to stop letting my mind hold me back. My body can do much more than I can even imagine.

On another note, I'm going to be a "success story" at my gym! One of the trainers there approached me a couple weeks ago and said he was going to be posting some success stories of moms who recently had their babies and got back into shape. He asked if I would be interested in being featured. They hang your story and photos (before photo is a pregnancy shot and after photo of what you look like now) up somewhere in the gym for people to read. I'm kind of shy about that kind of stuff but also psyched that he thought I was inspiring enough to be a "success story." :)

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous this week. This is a photo of the tree in front of our house. I always love it when it blooms.

Laila and I have been on many walks this week. We are both so happy to be out. Last weekend we went out and bought one of those baby hiking backpacks that we can carry her around in. On Saturday hubby carried her in it as we walked about 3 miles. She loved it! She liked being up high and seeing everything. I tried it out for a little while the next day and let me tell you, I was beat! You definitely feel that weight. I don't know how he carried her for so long! You definitely burn some additional calories. :)

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My first 10K experience was...

Monday, March 29, 2010

AWESOME! I had a blast!! :)

The weather was perfect. Sunny and little chilly but that is a good thing because once you are running for a while, you get HOT. My husband and brother-in-law were also in the race but my wave started an hour after theirs.

My MIL and SIL were coming to cheer us on and watch the kids. I rode with them; my husband and BIL wanted to get there earlier. We weren't sure where I needed to be dropped off. We saw signs with letters so they dropped me off there. It turned out that that was the meeting place for after the race. LOL! By asking around, I figured out where I needed to go, which was a little bit of a walk from where I was dropped off. But that was fine because I needed to warm up anyway.

I was excited and a little nervous as I stood waiting for our group to start. Most people around me were with people they knew. Since I was on my own, I was just looking around and taking it all in and wondering how I would do. Some people had headphones. I didn't bring mine because my DH told me they were not allowed on this race. I thought, "how am I going to run 6 miles without music?"

Then a guy next to me struck up a conversation. He was by himself too and told me he wasn't sure if he would finish. I told him he would. He said he planned to walk some of it. "Me too," I said. As the group moved closer to the starting line, I got separated from him. When the race started I saw him look back at me. I got the feeling that perhaps he wanted me to be his running buddy, but I wanted to stay on my own. That way I could move at my own pace and not hold anyone back and vice versa.

I started out by taking it slow. Right off the bat, my ankle hurt just a little but I pushed through it and the twinge went away. There was an older couple running at about the same pace as me and I thought maybe I could pace myself behind them for the duration of the race. As I ran about 1/2 mile, my legs wanted to go a little faster so I sped up. Soon I didn't recognize anyone I started out with. Most people had started out faster. It was such an awesome feeling to see the "Mile 1" marker. Before I knew it, there was "Mile 2"!!! I didn't feel like I needed to walk yet, so I wondered, "Can I possibly make it to Mile 3 without stopping to walk?? I was starting to get a little tired but I said to myself "keep going, keep going!" Soon, there was the "Mile 3" sign!! I was so excited because soon after that, I realized that I just ran a 5K without stopping.

A little while later, it got a little bit more difficult but manageable. At one point, I said out loud "Is this a hill or am I just getting tired?" A woman next to me said "Don't think about hills, keep going, you're doing great!" The course was pretty flat but there were small hills here and there. I pushed through and soon I saw Mile 4. Seeing those mile markers was so inspiring!! I cheered every time I passed one. I also looked at my HRM to see how long it took me to get to each one and I could kind of gauge how long it would be before I saw another marker.

It was so much fun running by all the people who were cheering on the sidelines. There were many bands playing all along the course. I didn't need my iPod and headphones. It was encouraging to see people of all ages, weights and fitness levels. I ran through Miles 5 and 6. That's right. I ran. the. entire. thing!!!!!!!!!!!! :) I still can't believe it!

I didn't see my husband or the rest of the family at any point in the race. They were there but I completely missed them in the crowd. When I got to the end my legs felt like jello. I got a banana, a bagel and a Powerade and went back to the finish line to see if I could find them. I didn't have my cell phone with me so I just wandered around for a while. I saw a sheriff and asked to borrow his cell, called DH, and his phone was turned off. Wandered around some more. Soon I started to panic because there were SO many people. About 37,000 people registered for the race. That was just runners, then there were all the people who came to watch. I didn't know how the heck I would find my family. I was hanging out near the finish line when I saw my husband running toward me. I was SO happy to see him!! :) He said they were waiting for me to pass near the last monument but they must have missed me. He decided to go look for me near the finish while the rest of them stayed put in case I ran by. I had taken off my light blue jacket because I was hot, and that is what they were looking for, not the red sleeveless OSU top. LOL.

I think what really motivated me to keep going was all the people around, the cheering and the music. It would be a very different experience trying to run 6 miles by myself in an isolated area. Some people love that, but for me I think it would get boring and I would want to stop. The race further confirmed what I already knew. I am a social exerciser. I don't necessarily have to be talking to someone, but it inspires me to have people around.

Overall, it was an amazing experience. So much fun!
Official time: 1:08:50. Place 15,914. Place 7384 for my gender and 972 for my age. Ran the first 5k in 35:02.

ETA: I wondered how many other Sparkies were running this race. I knew of one other from my Lost sparkteam. My husband asked me if I saw the people holding up the sign that read something like "We love our Richmond (or Virginia) SparkPeople" or something like that. (The race was in Richmond). Unfortunately I missed that too! Maybe next time I'll wear something on my shirt that says "tap me if you are a Spark person." LOL.

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10K race Saturday!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

My first race ever!! I'm so not ready because I didn't train as much as I should have. I am hoping the adrenaline and having all those people (albeit strangers) to run with will propel me forward. I really have no idea what to expect or how I will feel actually running in the race. I have been to races before to cheer people on so I know that there is a crowd watching you pass. I know there are bands and water stations. Hopefully some first aid stations too???
Despite not being ready I am looking forward to the experience. My husband and his brother are running the race too. I am looking forward to seeing my husband's family this weekend and our niece and nephew.
Everyone have an amazing weekend! :)

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Healthy Living Survey

Friday, March 19, 2010

I saw this on my friend PRAIRIEDAWNPAM's blog and thought it would be fun! Hope she doesn't mind that I took it. :)

1. What did you eat for breakfast?
Strawberries, blueberries, Ellie Krieger's carrot cake cupcake, milk. I made the cupcakes this week because I needed to use up some carrots. These are healthier than typical carrot cake (gotta love Ellie) but are so moist and delicious! You could make them without the frosting for less calories and they would probably still be good.
www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-kr
ieger/carrot-cupcakes-with-cream-chees
e-frosting-recipe/index.html

But usually, I eat oatmeal or waffle with peanut butter and pumpkin butter or honey and some fruit and milk.


2. How much water do you drink a day?
I am bad about this. Maybe 4 cups?

3. What is your favorite workout?
Body Combat!

4. What is your favorite fruit?
Just one? I love apples, strawberries, pomegranates, oranges, grapes, nectarines, tomatoes...

5. What is your favorite vegetable?
I don't have a favorite but I like salads. I do eat veggies on their own too.

6. How many calories do you burn a week?
I aim for 1200, but burn more or less depending on the week.

7. How many calories do you eat a day?
My goal is 1500-1800. I often end up higher though.

8. What are your favorite healthy snacks?
Apples with peanut butter, bananas with peanut butter and raisins, dark chocolate

9. What do you usually eat for lunch?
Whatever is in the fridge. Lately it's been canned chicken on top of some greens and salsa.

10. What is usually for dinner?
Whatever is in the fridge. We have chicken a lot. We also make chili, veggie soup, or some quick and easy meals made from stuff found at Trader Joe's.

11. What is your favorite body part to strength train?
Don't have a favorite.

12. What is your least favorite body part to strength train?
Triceps

13. What is your least favorite exercise?
Machines at the gym. Too repetitive.

14. What is your favorite exercise?
Body combat! I like group classes

15. What are your "bad" food cravings?
Cookies and ice cream

16. What is your go to workout song?
"How Far We've Come" by Matchbox Twenty

17. Do you take vitamins or supplements?
Still taking my prenatals and DHA. Calcium also. That is, if I remember to take them.

18. How often do you eat out?
About 2 times a week.

19. Do you eat fast food?
I try not to, but yes, sometimes. I love Chick-fil-a!

20. How do you stay motivated?
By logging on to Spark. Also, by reminding myself that I never want to go back to the weight I used to be. Making sure I still fit into my goal-weight clothes.

21. Who is your biggest supporter?
My husband and Spark friends

22. How much weight have you lost?
Lost 65 pounds, then got pregnant. I have 8 pounds to lose to get back to GW after baby.

23. How did you determine your goal weight?
It is the weight my body liked to be before I started to gain a lot of weight.

24. Do you have a gym membership?
Yes! Can't live without it!

25. How often do you work out?
About 4 or 5 times a week.

26. How did you find Spark?
A newspaper article I was reading mentioned it.

27. How much sleep do you get a night?
7 or 8 hours

28. Are you a morning or night workout person?
Morning. I like to get it out of the way and move on with my day. But I do kickboxing on Monday and Thursday evenings.

29. Do you have a "cheat" day?
Yes, multiple. Sometimes it feels like every day is a cheat day.

30. Do you drink soda?
Not anymore. When on a rare occasion I do pick up a Coke Zero, I always hear Jillian Michaels in my head saying " Why are you putting that poison in your body?"

31. Do you drink alcohol? How much?
Not since before I was pregnant. In the past (post--college) it was maybe once a month. Looking forward to having a drink again. I love Heffeweizen beer and margaritas.

32. What is your favorite thing about Spark?
Spark Friends, Spark teams, all the support, food tracker

33. What do you not like about your body? What do you love about your body?
Not like: Belly fat (but loved my prego belly!)
Like: That it is capable of nurturing a growing baby

34. Do you have a workout buddy?
No, but hubby and I sometimes go to the gym together.

35. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to this Healthy Lifestyle?
I am no longer overweight and my life is enriched by all the friends I've made here.

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