I did a 10k on my own yesterday...

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I started out thinking I was only going to do my noraml running route, which is about 4.5 miles. But as I neared home, I realized that I was enjoying my run so I decided to keep on going and aim for a 10k distance.

I hit the 8k close to my driveway and thought I'd head down toward the lake and turn around when my nike+ announced I went 9k. Well, it turned out that I went all the way down to the lake. Notice I said "down", almost 1 mile downhill. That meant that I had to go almost 1 mile uphill on the turn around.

I am so pleased with my progress -- I was able to run all the way back up that road.

It was such a pretty run too. The leaves are just starting to turn. The best thing is now I have running route for a 10k. Oh, my finishing time - 1:06'57 -- my best time so far.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KELLEEH 9/28/2011 7:23PM

That is absolutely wonderful! I am able to do a 5k, and am working on a 5-mile route. Then maybe a 10k will be in my future! Way to go! Report Inappropriate Comment

GOING-STRONG 9/28/2011 12:44AM

Fab Fab Fabulous ~ Great job! I usually only run 5k but am planning to do the Great Columbia Crossing 10k this coming weekend. Not sure how far I'll be able to run without stopping but I'm going to give it my best shot. Now hopefully the weather will cooperate. Have a wonderful week, Rhonda Report Inappropriate Comment

LOPEYP 9/27/2011 7:52PM

What a great accomplishment! Kudos to you!! Report Inappropriate Comment

ELEMENOPEO 9/27/2011 6:01PM

Great job! Thanks for sharing the beautiful view. Leaves are changing here too. But it is still nice to be outside while it's warmer. Report Inappropriate Comment

FRANNYMAE80 9/27/2011 12:41PM

What a great picture! and congratualtions on your 10k, that totally rocks! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIV2RIDE 9/27/2011 11:54AM

Good for you! what a beautiful photo. I can't believe the leaves are already turning. Report Inappropriate Comment

AUNTKITTY 9/27/2011 11:20AM

Wow - that is TOTALLY impressive! (and the picture is beautiful too.) I think you deserve a trophy! Report Inappropriate Comment

Ok, So I clicked on the HFCS ad on Spark People

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

I found the title of the website to be very appropriate for its message: sweetscam.com. The website is full of information to inform us that sugar is sugar. It shows how different types of sugars are made. I found the message of the site to be that since sugar is sugar one form of the processed stuff is not really worse than another.

I found it deceptively truthful in the HFCS section on how different refinement of HFCS are added to baked goods and sodas. The reason I say 'deceptively truthful' is while it is true that HFCS is added to baked goods and sodas, why is there no mention of how many other products HFCS is added to?

Check out this link and see which foods we get added sugar:
www.cspinet.org/reports/sugar/sugaro
rigin.html

Yeah, I think it is a sweet scam - put HFCS into as many products as possible and then advertise that sugar is sugar and it is OK in moderation. Exactly what is moderation?

I am fascinated by the argument that we are genetically designed to like the sweet tastes of food - after all, that is what helped our ancestors determine whether or not a fruit was ripe, not so ripe or rotten. To me, that argument does not make sense, because our ancestors did not usually go to a grocery store and "pick" a highly and overprocessed food to eat. They ate whole foods, with the least amount of processing as possible.

Let's get real and eat real food.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TERTELLE 9/27/2011 1:10PM

The thing about real food is that real food has no label...every time I'm tempted by a new "package" I repeat that little mantra to myself in my head. Report Inappropriate Comment

FRANNYMAE80 9/27/2011 12:39PM

Thanks for sharing this! Some of the products you don't even realize sugar is in. I haven't had a a soda in a month and this reiterates why. Report Inappropriate Comment

SARAHTAIT 9/27/2011 12:33PM

I agree....HFCU is not good at all! thanks for bring it to people's attention! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIV2RIDE 9/27/2011 11:53AM

I'm one that has a sugar problem. Not a problem really I just really really like it in all forms. I have found that when I was having a green smoothie every morning for breakfast that I wanted sugar less and even thought about it less. But now that the weather is colder and I've gone back to my old faithful oatmeal I find myself thinking about sweets much more. I won't buy foods that have HFCS in it or even artificial sweeteners. That is just one small step in the battle though. Report Inappropriate Comment

LODYANGEL 9/27/2011 11:05AM

You are so right! HFCS is not good for you. For the past few months I have been trying to avoid eating any HFCS. In October I am cutting out foods with anything that is partially hydrogenated in them...Wish me luck! Report Inappropriate Comment

CRISSA1669 9/27/2011 10:07AM

AGREED!! All Sugar is NOT Sugar! Check out the documentary King Corn and take note of the part where the filmakers set out to make HFCS(CRAZY)...now that for sure is NOT normal and it is not normal what HFCS is doing to our bodies...if people have not noticed....we are getting FAT in some seriously WEIRD places...my family calls it "GMO Fat" because it's certainly not the same as when Grandma was plump and squishy cooking whole foods. "Let's get real and eat real food" AMEN to that!! Thanks for the post! Report Inappropriate Comment

Had to change original goal - but...

Monday, September 26, 2011

Here I am crossing the 5k finish line. Considering when I started running I was not able to run to my neighbor's mailbox, I am so proud of my accomplishment. I am finding that running a race is a lot like Spark People, there are many ups and downs on the way to that goal.

1. Set a goal.
2. Design a plan to reach that goal.
3. Begin to execute that plan.
4. Have a plan B in case the first plan is not reasonable.
5. Expect a few failures on the way to reaching that goal.
6. LEARN from those failures so you can avoid doing it again.
7. Stay focused on that goal, i.e. why you want to accomplish that goal.
8. Once you accomplish the goal, set another one.

This was my best "Official" time on a race so far. I could have pushed myself a bit harder to reach my goal of a sub30, but I had some not-so-good eating for two weeks, so my goal for this race was to do a sub31 and finish strong. I accomplished both. I heard some one comment "wow! Look at her go!" as I neared the finish line.

My advice is "Never Give Up! Goals take time and effort to accomplish. Keep Striving to achieve"

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

52114ME 9/26/2011 9:38PM

Way to go Girl! You are an inspiration to me. I am keeping my eye on you. I have just updated my long term goals since I recently met mine. Keep up the hard work! Report Inappropriate Comment

SANDYBRUNO 9/26/2011 12:57PM

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LIV2RIDE 9/26/2011 12:38PM

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KINDREDRUNNER 9/26/2011 12:01PM

Awesome! Congrats on the finish! Report Inappropriate Comment

FRANNYMAE80 9/26/2011 11:18AM

Way to go! Congratulations on you race. Report Inappropriate Comment

35ANGELS 9/26/2011 10:43AM

I'm just starting the C25k this week. Awesome time....any plans for another 5k? Report Inappropriate Comment

Cake Inhalanator

Friday, September 23, 2011

What is a cake inhalanator? That was me yesterday. I do not what I was thinking. I cleaned out the fridge yesterday and came across some of the leftover frosting from my grandson's birthday cake. And there on top of the counter was a boxed cake mix - dh had set it out as a hint.

So, I made the cake, let it cool 10 minutes and Magic happened - within a half hour half the cake disappeared. OK, I don't take credit for all the disappearance; only half of it.

I have to admit, it tasted good. But i knew it was not a good choice for me. To end my day, I went for a 4.5 mile run and then did a 45 minute bootcamp workout. And I have to admit, the exercise made me feel a lot better than that cake.

Moral of the story: exercise is a better mood lifter than junk food. Let that be a lesson to me the next time I want to pig out on junk food.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MISSLISA1973 9/23/2011 7:18PM

These things happen. Live and learn. Owning up to it on a public blog? Well now, that takes guts. Way to go you. Keep up the great work... it's one day at a time. Half a cake is nothing compared to all the amazing things you are accomplishing. Report Inappropriate Comment

MARTHASPARKS 9/23/2011 3:31PM

Husbands can be the worst offenders when it comes to temptations: all kinds of temptations. Report Inappropriate Comment

RMDILLEY 9/23/2011 1:03PM

I can relate, I think my boyfriend is out to sabatoge me. The exercise definitely is a mood lifter! Good for you! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHIEF_GEEK 9/23/2011 11:31AM

I can relate to that story. My wife is a very good baker, and her cookies are to die for. Last week, she whipped up a couple dozen cookies and I looked at her like what are you going to do with those, I hope taking them to work. Well she did, but I was in the freezer the other day, and I found the secret stash. YEP, they were calling my name. SO BAD, but SO GOOD too! Comment edited on: 9/23/2011 11:31:55 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

NJMATTICE 9/23/2011 11:23AM

I inhaled quite a bit of cake last weekend as well. My father and my sister share a birthday, but heaven forbid they should share the same cake. My father had two cakes, my sister had two cakes, there was cake for dessert at the banquet honoring my father and two coffee cakes at brunch. No cake goes untasted by me. (It's a rule) I'm glad that's behind me. As Marie Antoinette said, "Let them eat cake!" And I might add, ". . . and then get the heck back on that wagon!" Enjoy your weekend. -Nancy Positive Bloggers Team Report Inappropriate Comment

LADYJ6942 9/23/2011 11:14AM

LOL, Love it and it is oh so true. Good job!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

The Spark, chapter 2

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

This chapter is about FOCUS or in other words setting goals based upon who I am and what do I want to accomplish in life. I have been rereading this chapter over and over because I feel like I have been just going with the flow for the majority of my life.

I feel like I am always putting everyone's needs before mine, expect for recently. I finally got firm and said I need to take the time and make sure I get my exercise in. So, I guess that is a start.

This morning I sat down to write out my goals only to have a blank piece of paper in front of me for over an hour. I was having a hard time thinking about what I really want to accomplish in my life. I have been married for 31 years and spent the majority of those years being in the role of a homemaker, with the exception of the 5 years I worked as a customer service representative for a mail-order company. I should add, thosse were some on the worst years of my life. I only stuck it out because of the medical package.

I went to school a few years back for a culinary program but was so disappointed with the lack of teaching that I feel the degree I earned is worth not much more than the paper it is printed on. However, one of the courses got me interested in nutrition so I cannot say it was a total waste of time and money.

So, back to FOCUS, ( see how easy I get sidetracked), as I think about what goals I want to accomplish in my life I was coming up with nothing. How sad it that? I realized that I have no real focus. How often do we ask children what do they want to be when they grow up? Well, here I am all grownup and I still don't know what I want to be.

That is until now. I have come to realize that during the course of that culinary program, I had a desire to write my own cookbook, complete with recipes that are unique to me, health supporting and are pretty to look at.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JITZUROE 9/20/2011 2:40PM

Good for you to actually take that time for YOU and work on your next goal! I want to see that cookbook!!! : ) Bren Report Inappropriate Comment

LIV2RIDE 9/20/2011 2:20PM

that's a pretty awesome goal! I can't wait to get a copy. Report Inappropriate Comment