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MISSLISA1973's Recent Blog Entries
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Monday, June 25, 2012
I recently received a FitBit. I love that it tracks my every move, tells me my calorie burn for the day, and uses it to tell me how much I can eat that day. I set mine to "sedentary," which starts me out on the low end of my calorie intake for the day. As I am more active, I can earn more calories to eat. I also started my half-marathon training this past Tuesday. These two things together have sparked (is this the infamous "criss cross effect?"  ) a new-found appreciation of tracking what I eat. I have tried it before, but have mostly been resistant. (OK, OK. "Resistant" is a little bit of an understatement. I have been digging in my heels and stubbornly refusing to do it.) But since getting the FitBit, I am eager to log my every bite to see exactly where I am at.
One of my goals is to be able to eat a serving of ice cream every day. Tonight, I was starving at dinner and so made a poor choice. I ate more than I needed. I was stuffed, uncomfortable, and over my calorie limit. I haven't had any ice cream today. I was just sitting here thinking how much I would like to have some. I realize it is not in the cards for me today unless I get a lot more active. Yet I don't feel deprived like I always have before. I realize I am in this predicament because of a choice I made earlier this evening. I feel like I can have ice cream in the morning if I want to, but I am CHOOSING not to have any tonight because I CHOSE to overeat at dinner. Without judgment, without anger or frustration, without beating myself up about it. It's simply a fact for me.
Wow. This is progress.
Friday, June 22, 2012
I have been given the honor of working on a health newsletter for my workplace. While I thoroughly enjoy looking at motivating fitness pictures of the highly fit (a.k.a. "fitspo"), I would like to include some pictures of "normal" or "everyday" people doing fitness of all sorts: dance, yoga, pilates, running, walking. Why is it that the only fitsp I can find are of the super-fit? If you know of any places where I can find fitspo that features beginners and everyday looking people getting fit, please let me know. I want to show that fitness is for everyone, not just those with rock-hard abs and guns of steel.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Saturday was the Purple Stride 5K, which I did in memory of my dad. It was to raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Dad died nine years ago from pancreatic cancer, less than a year before retirement. Mom and Dad were supposed to be happily enjoying retirement now. Instead, Mom is left alone, working to barely pay for health insurance and missing Dad. Most days, this is just a fact of life and not something to cry about. I am not normally one to cry, though it seems the tears flow more freely as I get older.
Saturday though, everything changed. What an emotional day! I was about to cry even before I got to the registration table! Then there was a place where I could hang a note to my loved one. Mine just said, "I miss you dad. Love, Lisa" And I got to wear a banner on my back that said "I am here in honor of Dad." Others were also wearing their back banners and hanging their signs. Others were wearing shirts with memorials to their loved ones. Everything was making me emotional! Did you know that pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cancer killer, yet it receives only TWO PERCENT of cancer research funding? Did you know that less than six percent of those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will still be alive five years later? The Indianapolis race was organized by a woman whose brother died from pancreatic cancer two years ago. This was the second Purple Stride in Indy. She was there, of course, and she spoke. And she choked up. So did I. Tears streaming down my face, I thought, "Now how am I supposed to race when they start me out by crying?"
But we finally made it through the opening ceremonies and lined up at the start line. They called for runners to go first, and walkers would go five minutes later. Since I planned to do both, I wondered where the (as my husband would call it) "mixie" group should begin. I finally decided I would start out running, so I would start with the runners. That felt good.
I am working my way through the "You Can Run a Mile Without Stopping" program from SparkPeople ( www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
_articles.asp?id=1004 ) and was planning to follow it for at least the first mile, maybe the whole race. If I was tired, though, I would walk after the first mile or so. I recently read LDRICHEL's popular blog, "How I Ran 3 Miles Without Stopping" ( www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
urnal_individual.asp?blog_id=4910243 ) and decided to run in her footsteps. Slowly. Very slowly. As in, I've walked faster slowly. And I thought I would see how far this would take me for my first run interval, then I would do the walk/run intervals prescribed by the program. That was my official plan for the day.
But my secret goal was that I would run the whole first mile. How cool would that be? Dad used to go to all my cross country meets in high school. I knew he would be proud of my efforts today, so I guess you could say he was with me in spirit, encouraging me. I kept running. I wasn't wearing out, but it was taking concentration. I wondered if the first mile was ever going to end. "Did they forget to put up a sign?" I wondered. Then I saw it. I  'd right out loud. I did it! Only a few more steps to go and I had run the whole first mile! I hadn't run a whole mile in probably 20 years!
What if I kept going? I wondered how much further I could make it. I still wasn't tired, so I thought I would try to make it to the first water station. As I turned one corner, I saw a speed bump and joked with the volunteer directing us that they put it there for me because I was going so fast.  A little further ahead and around the next curve, I saw the first water station, so I kept running. I saw a race official at the water stop and asked how far in I was. When he told me that mile two was just up ahead, I thought, "Well then. Let's see if I can make it that far. Surely I'll have to walk eventually, but let's see if I can do two miles." And so I ran.
I ran all the way up to the two mile marker. Then I thought, "Wouldn't it be a shame not to finish the race running now? I mean, seriously. How cool would it be to announce on SparkPeople that I ran the whole race? I so want to blog that I ran the whole thing. Let's see if I can keep going." I was starting to get tired though, so I did the impossible. I slowed down even more! I shuffled through what I thought might be at least another half mile, then decided I'd better pick up the pace just a smidge. I was almost going as "fast" as I had at the beginning of the race. I thought I saw people ahead and figured I might be nearing the finish line. I kept running.
Then I saw the 3 mile marker just ahead. I had time to figure out my strategy. At what point was I going to let loose and give it my all? Did I have an all left to give? Was a whole tenth of a mile too long to bust it out? I had to try.
Some of you may remember that my running coach died recently. I was heartbroken, even though he was old and I knew he wouldn't last forever. Right as I put my foot by the three mile sign, I said, "This is for you, Coach" and sprinted like I was being chased by a bear. I felt beautiful form. I couldn't believe this was my body! I flew past two guys who graciously promised to pick up my hat if it fell off. "Seriously, where did this come from? When did I get so strong and so fast? Wow. This tough. How long is a tenth of a mile anyway? Am I going to make it? Am I really doing this? I must be. I'm getting tired!" Just a few steps from the finish, I began to lose momentum. I couldn't keep up the pace, but was still going as strong as I could. I am sure I saw a photographer taking snaps as I went by and was distinctly aware of the grimace on my face at the time, but wasn't about to give up my race for a picture. They haven't posted the pix yet, so we'll see how bad it was later. 
As I crossed the finish line  , I had to let out some sort of yelpy kind of noise. I'm not sure how that balances things out, but it helped keep me from falling over. There was a guy sitting there with his scissors ready to cut off my timing chip. I had to give him "the hand" until I could catch my breath to say I would be back. I thought my legs would give out if I didn't keep moving. I walked all the way over to the water (whose crazy idea was it to put it another 3 miles away? Well maybe not that far, but geez Louise it seemed like it  ) and picked up a banana while I was there.   My legs were feeling steadier by then, so I walked back to give up my timing chip. Thankfully he was not offended by my earlier actions.
I didn't win the race. I didn't even win my age division. As a matter of fact, I came in 14th place in my age division. Out of 14. I came in 119/122 overall. I have literally walked a faster 5K, but am THRILLED to have run the whole thing for the first time in 20 years. Even though it's not a best time, I think it's still a PR (personal record) to say I ran the whole thing. I'm not unhappy with my time either. I think a 15:06 pace (46:56 total) is good for a first run. My first four-mile walk a year and a half ago was about a 17&1/2 minute pace, so I would say I've come a long way since then. 
After it was over, I walked home. With the walk there, the warm up time, and the walk back, I managed to log 6.35 miles Saturday morning. (Then I came home and ate enough ice cream for someone who had done a whole marathon.  I like ice cream.  Too much. But we're not focusing on bad things in this blog. Only good.  )
My husband wanted to go to the Asian Fest, so I got cleaned up and put on my new race shirt. (I never wear the race shirt for the race, unless it's something like the Santa Hustle where the fun is in all dressing up alike.) Off we went. My goodness it was hot that day! There's not much exciting to say about the event. It was fun, as always. We enjoyed some music and a couple booths. We bumped into someone my husband knows. And thanks to not having cash, we avoided the overpriced and never-that-good fair food (it doesn't matter what the culture, fair food just isn't that good). The festival was at the park, so as we were leaving, I had to stop and swing for a bit. My husband, being the photographer that he is, had to take some shots. I thought you would enjoy this one of me living it up.
Saturday, June 02, 2012
We don't necessarily agree on what "it" is, but I am worth it! Today, the "it" for me is a run.
I've got too much going on right now and expect it to be that way for at least the rest of the year. I am often overly tired, which means I am more susceptible to crankiness, irritability, depression, meanness, frustration, and a sense of overwhelm. It took me about a month, but I finally came to terms with the idea that I was going to have to adjust my New Year's resolution and admit to myself that 1000 miles would not be feasible for me this year. It took even longer to decide to take my walking and finally let myself actually work toward running again, but I have not really set a hard goal for my running other than making it through the "You Can Run a Mile Without Stopping" plan (find it at www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
_articles.asp?id=1004 ). Without a definite goal, I find that my workouts are not a priority for me and so rarely occur.
When I want one, I always remind myself why I do not have time. "I should be doing this or that, or maybe that other thing. If not that, I should be sleeping or doing something productive." I think my husband or the world will think, "Why is she wasting her time running when she should be {blank}?" (My husband has never been non-supportive toward my workouts, and has never once suggested that my time would be better spent doing something else. This is just the way my mind works.  )
I was looking at my fitspo on tumblr and found one that said, "Exercise is a time to let your mind unwind." I realized it had been too long since I'd allowed myself a workout. My first thought was, once again, "I don't have time." Then I realized it didn't matter. This is what I needed, so I changed and went for a run. It felt good. I felt good. And I still feel good. My mind unwound and I realized I really am worth it!!!
 
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!!! thanks for being a blessing to me. 
...... so KEEP ON STREAKEN .... I need someone to follow ...... Who else do you think got me goin? ........ ha ha ........ Now enough mushiness: come read my blog I wrote today!! ........ lol ....... 2B/ newbie ...
The 5% summer challenge is about to begin ! I done the spring challenge and lost 7.4 lbs ! I am on the butterfly team want to join me ? Also on the team GOD ANSWERS PRAYER under report weight loss i started a 4 lb loss challenge for june ! YOU DESERVE THE AWARD ! BEING A MOTAVATOR ISN'T ABOUT DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT IT'S ABOUT TRYING TILL YOU WIN ! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK AND THANKS FOR BEING MY FRIEND ! 
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