TANYAP71's SparkPeople Blog

Pushing Through

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:19:05 EST

I came down with my son's cold over the weekend. Loads of congestion! I gained over 5 pounds in 3 days before I realized that I was sick, not just dehydrated from our day in Boston. I started taking decongestants and I've dropped 6 pounds since Monday morning. From my highest weigh-in since reaching goal to my lowest weight in 3 weeks... weird.

Between zinc and the decongestants I feel human but not great. I've been doing easy workouts (centergy, slow runs, elliptical) and s...

16 Months of Maintenance

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:29:15 EST

Nothing profound to report. Today marks 16 months of maintenance.

My body fat is in a good place. My lean mass is in a good place. My overall fitness is in a good, but not peak, place. And I'm happy. That is not profound... except that it is late February and all of that is true and for many, many, many years I could not have imagined saying any of that, let alone all of that, in the dead of winter.

Finished up the most massive of the units in my FNS course. Lo...

Up, down, up

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:24:54 EST

This was a CRAZY week. Lots of ups and downs. Ups were a wonderful Valentine's Day and a general feeling of contentment. Downs were the unexpected death of a family member who never let anyone know he was sick and stress surrounding the blizzard and DH's work. My weight has been on a roller coaster in the last week - I think (and hope) - mostly because of water retention due to poor eating/drinking choices. I breathed a sigh of relief when I dipped below goal yesterday morning and went a...

This getting in shape thing? What worked for my body seems to be working for my house!

Thu, 7 Feb 2013 17:19:41 EST

Another week has come and gone. Still maintaining my goal weight easily. Still working out 4-5 times a week. Feeling strong and faster. Happy.

I have now had a clean house for a month. I honestly can't remember the last time the house was this orderly for this long. I hate hate hate housework and used to resent doing so much for the family that they were capable of doing. I decided that that was only hurting me - the resentment AND the refusal to just do it myself. I am 'a...

Moving right along.....

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 10:59:08 EST

Celebrated another month of maintenance. Go me!

I wrapped up the 2nd phase of The Female Body Breakthrough and moved into the third. Since this is my second time through and I'm doing it just for me, I skipped the horrid 'matrices' she has in the 3rd phase. This one has lots of heavy lifting and I love it! I'm lifting 2 days a week these days.

I'm running 5K 2x a week, in intervals, working on my speed. I run 'fast' (7.5-8MPH now) for 90-120s then run 'slow' (6MP...

Life is Good

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:12:01 EST

Maintaining my weight loss, enjoying my exercise. Floating along over and under 20% body fat which works well for me given it's not bikini season.

Spending a lot of 'energy' on decluttering and housework. Now that exercise is habit, I need to see if I can make keeping house habit. I detest housework. I doubt I will ever enjoy it (like I do exercise) but I DO enjoy a clean and orderly house. That's my focus!

Happy to report that I'm regularly running 5K in under 3...

I resolve to be.

Fri, 4 Jan 2013 09:24:03 EST

Just be. I give myself permission to be whatever it is I need to be in the moment. I've had a year+ maintaining and even longer peaking, stepping back, peaking again in terms of strength/body fat/definition. I am in a happy place with my weight and fitness and this year I don't want to set any grand goals other than to be as happy and content as I can be in my daily life.

Today I am looking forward to nacho and movie night with the family tonight, my daughter's basketball game t...

Well, well, well.....

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 15:26:17 EST

It's been a while!

Hurricane Sandy didn't come very close to us but it did leave us without power. And when power was restored, my computer was damaged. Probably either when the power went out or came back. DH, luckily, has lots of experience building and rebuilding computers and was able to figure out what was damaged (power supply and a memory chip) and get me up and running again.

Life has been NUTS! But I'm still maintaining.... in fact I've been under goal a...

Hoooo boy and CGG111's Blog Challenge Q11

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:14:00 EST

I skipped my 2 classes on Monday because I needed to be 'at hand' to answer calls from the vet... but I more than made up with them by really pushing myself with my ST on Wednesday, a 6+ mile run yesterday, and a wicked kettlebell workout today. Hoooo.. I am going to feel it tomorrow!

My cat is doing well. Thank goodness. I hope he continues to be OK once the antibiotics wear off. My other big project this week was book fair. I wasn't in charge this year but I wanted to be 'on...

CGG111's blog challenge Q10 & Running

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 13:54:23 EST

The Blog Challenge Question is Q10. Post a picture from your day.

I had my hair colored yesterday and made a pretty big change so I figured I'd share that. I went blonde a while ago and have just been doing that (no highlights or lowlights for months). My hair was starting to feel too 'white'/'light'/'cold' so I decided to add lowlights. I gave DH the choice - red or brown - knowing that red will fade out on me in a few weeks (always does, no matter what) leaving me with golden...

Deep Breath.... and CGG111's Blog Challenge Q9

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 07:44:05 EST

The weekend was a blur.

Saturday we putzed around the house. DS had a big project due today that he'd been struggling with. Luckily he admitted that he didn't think his ADD meds were cutting it about a week ago and Saturday was his first day on a new dose. He banged it out and I hope he gets a great grade because he needs to boost his grade in that class. I, honestly, can't really even remember what I did except futz the day away anxious about he would feel on a higher dose. ...

One Year Maintenance Anniversary

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 17:44:13 EST

I feel like I'm supposed to have profound thoughts today - my one year anniversary of reaching goal weight - but I really don't. I'm very happy to have made it this far but I it's really just one more day in a healthy life.

One more day of .... eating well - the right food at the right times in the right amounts.

One more day of .... making exercise a priority in my schedule.

One more day of .... managing stress so I don't make poor decisions.

On...

Autumn & CGG111's Blog Challenge Q8

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 20:02:31 EST

I love that today's blog challenge question is about autumn. Autumn is my favorite season! I certainly won't struggle to come up with 10 things I like!

Q8. 10 things I love about fall.

1. The kids go back to school. I don't like this because they are gone so long but their return to school forces our family to return to a routine. I love routine.

2. I go back to my volunteer work. I really enjoy my volunteer work with the schools. I feel more product...

Book Fair and CGG111s Blog Challenge Q7

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:46:46 EST

My daughter graduated from elementary school last year and I passed the book fair baton with a promise to myself (and my family) not to pick it up again at the middle school level. Buuuuut...... the middle school chair had to step down due to a new job and the last middle school chair took on the job because someone had to do it so I feel the need to help her out as much as possible. So.... when she asked me to come in a few hours earlier than planned to help with set-up, I did. Which mean...

Crazy Day and CGG111's Blog Challenge Q6

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:38:51 EST

Today was nutso.
Had to make breakfasts for 3, lunches for 3, get us all out the door. Then we had a meeting with DD's teachers shortly after school started. Raced off to the gym to get in an abbreviated run and my centergy class. Then killed a bit of time having a post-workout snack waiting for Chipotle to open so I could pick up a lunch for my son. It's 'eat lunch with your child' week at school. God forbid I eat with him but he was more than happy to have me bring him lunch. Th...

CGG111's blog challenge Q5

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 09:22:01 EST

Q5. If I were to win the lottery___________.

I would pay cash for our dream house. We live in a basic 3 bed 2 bath colonial with no garage and a 'tricky' lot. I would build a house with 5 beds and more baths, quiet study/practice space for each kid, separate office where DH and I could 'wall off' our stressful stuff, and a large hobby/fitness area, probably over the garage. This would only happen if we won the lottery because big mortgages are stressful!

If it was ...

Running and CGG111's blog challenge Q4

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:04:28 EST

Running update:
Running for 2012:
145.75 + 5.25 = 151.0 miles
no race booked... thinking about an 8K on Thanksgiving

4. Describe your dream job.

Honestly, I do not know. I love biology. Always have, always will. I am a biologist. I, however, did not find a way to combine being the kind of biologist I wanted to be with the kind of wife and mother I wanted to be. Even now, I look at the hours and dedication it would take and know that I would hate bei...

Race, Off the Wagon, and CGG111's Blog Challenge Q3

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:11:20 EST

I ran my third 5K race Saturday. It was REALLY cold - in the 30s. They called us to the start line only to then call a delay for 10 minutes.... only to have it turn into at least a 20' delay. Needless to say most of us started the race cold! Cold air triggers my asthma.... this is what killed my first attempt at being a running oh-so-many New Year's resolutions ago.... so I carried an inhaler and didn't push myself. I ran the whole way. Didn't need the inhaler. Felt pretty good - the b...

Kettlebells & CGG111's blog challenge (Q2)

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 09:24:56 EST

Friday is my kettlebell day. I do three cycles through a routine I got out of a magazine, adjusting the weight to fit my body. Right now I am using 10, 25, and 35 pound kettlebells. It's intense! But I have a hard time believing I'm burning the 800 calories Sparkpeople gives me credit for ;-) I wish KBs weren't so darned expensive. I like the way they work my muscles (it seems so much more functional and whole-body than other ST). In terms of what it feels like to ST with them, I like t...

CGG111's blog challenge (Q1), life, and running

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 11:11:35 EST

I'm going to join in on this blogging challenge:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_j
ournal_individual.asp?blog_id=5092194

Question 1. Review a book you recently read.

This would require me to have actually finished a book recently, right? Sadly, I have not finished a book since August. The last book I finished was 'Between the Lines' by Jodi Picoult & Samantha Van Leer. It was just too fluffy. I never really got into it. The bo...

Blah

Tue, 9 Oct 2012 12:01:26 EST

DH got stuck at work last night and missed Thanksgiving dinner. Bummer for everyone involved. The kids had even each cooked one of the dishes.

I can't get excited about our anniversary at this point. He's totally consumed with work. No time or energy for me. *If* we celebrated, I'd have to plan it myself. And it could end up like last night. That just makes me sad so I'd rather not think about it at all.

So... la la la la... I just do my own thing.

...

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

Mon, 8 Oct 2012 16:26:12 EST

My husband is Canadian so I use that as a reason to celebrate Thanksgiving twice :-) Today is Canadian Thanksgiving. I try to keep our Canadian version scaled-down and healthier than the American rendition.

We're having -
My favorite Chardonnay :-)
Seltzer
Homemade sugar-free cranberry sauce
Stuffing made with broth (not butter), lots of veggies, and a mix of whole wheat and white breads
Steamed green beans
Turkey breast roast with fat-free gr...

On Top of Things & Running Update

Sun, 7 Oct 2012 14:59:28 EST

I am membership chair for our PTA. As of today I have ALL membership entered and ALL membership cards printed. Tonight I'll make address labels and separate the cards while I watch the PTA game, tomorrow I'll buy envelopes and stuff them, Tuesday I'll drop them off at the schools and see if any new forms are waiting for me. I am getting this done MONTHS earlier than last year. Go me!

Running update:
Running for 2012:
130 miles + 4.0 miles = 134.0 miles
next 5K ...

Running Update

Thu, 4 Oct 2012 11:17:32 EST

Not a lot new. Thank goodness. I need a breather :-)

-----
Running update:
Running for 2012:
124.75 miles + 5.25 miles = 130 miles
next 5K in 9 days

Fourth day doing rolling hills on the treadmill. Feeling more energetic this morning. Did 5 miles of rolling hills and then walked to cool down. Then a half hour break before Centergy (grabbed a snack and drink). Centergy was good. Felt easy despite the long run before hand.

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Wed, 3 Oct 2012 10:33:28 EST

I thought I'd share one of my favorite lunches.

2-3 oz baby spinach
3 oz shredded carrots
12-15 baby tomatoes
4 oz thin & trim buffalo chicken
1 oz reduced fat blue cheese

Dressing - if desired (I usually skip it)
1 T lite blue cheese dressing
1 T fat-free greek yogurt
water as necessary to thin

This makes a huge salad! It's a very satisfying lunch!

Have you gotten your flu shot?

Tue, 2 Oct 2012 08:57:02 EST

Just a little PSA..... flu season will soon be upon us. If you get flu shots... now would be a good time.

The kids go to their flu clinic this afternoon. Despite my asthma, I don't qualify as 'high risk' at my PCP's practice so I got mine at Walgreen's this AM. Had to pay out of pocket for it but it was just $7 more than my doctor's office co-pay so I figured I'd just get it done with.

-----
Running update:
Running for 2012:
121.25 + 3.5 miles 124....

On to October

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 12:42:29 EST

My September Goals: "THIS MONTH: I'd like to get back to maintaining in the 124-126 range (instead of the 126-128 range) with body fat back down around 20%. I'd like to run my second 5K in 30 minutes or less. I'd like to be half done with my Fitness Nutrition Specialist Certification. My overarching goal is to end September is to feel like I've got my groove back :-) "

Maintaining in 124-126 range:
I didn't even GET into this range until 9/11. From then until the end of the ...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 30 - Got My Groove Back

Sun, 30 Sep 2012 08:52:14 EST

Day 30. What are you most proud of about your journey towards healthy living during the month of September?

I am proudest of the fact that I've got my groove back :-) It was my big goal for the month. The details - the precise weight range, body fat percentage - are not where I set out to get them but I feel fantastic. I took my measurements so I know that they are BETTER than they were back when I was 124-126 pounds with body fat average of 20%. I look great, I feel great, I ...

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 29: Randomness

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 08:52:35 EST

Day 29: There is so much MORE to you than your wellness journey. Please share 10 facts about yourself that aren't related to your weight loss journey, how you eat, or how you exercise.

1. I am at a Romney-Ryan rally with my husband and kids this morning.

2. I have a PhD in biology.

3. I knit, scrapbook, cook, and bake.

4. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 30.

5. I love to cruise and hope we cruise regularly after DH retires....

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 28 - There's more to this than nutrition & fitness

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:12:13 EST

Day 28. What do you do for wellness? For example, to increase emotional, spiritual, or intellectual well-being?

I am still working on this part of wellness. In a way it was the first thing I started working on but it is certainly the one that I will have to continue to WORK at for the longest.

Emotionally...... I think that exercise helped a lot here. I have a VERY strong family history of major depression. Long ago the doctor told me that vigorous exercise would ...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 27 - PT to PT

Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:47:11 EST

Day 27: Have you ever hired anyone to help you with your journey? A personal trainer. A dietician/nutritionist? A wellness coach? A life coach? What worked and didn't work?

I suppose the primary professional I 'hired' was my doctor. I've had a succession of them. The first one saw me when my son was about 6 months old. I was still 20-ish pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight and frustrated with my progress and my size. She told me I'd never get my pregnancy body back! That stuc...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 26 - Me, Myself, & I

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:09:57 EST

Day 26. Do you like to exercise alone, with a partner, in a small group, or in a large group? Why?

I mostly exercise by myself. Even though I take 3 large group classes a week, I feel like I do them 'alone'. There is little interaction between myself and the instructor. There is little interaction between myself and classmates. I think I would like more but there simply is not that kind of back-and-forth when the group is so large and the people in it variable. So... I exerci...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 25 - Exercise Past & Future

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:38:38 EST

Day 25. Is there any form of fitness/exercise that you tried and gave up? Is there any form of fitness/exercise that you would like to try?

Eons ago I was on a soccer team. I spent most of time feeling horribly embarrassed and like I was going to ruin everything for my team. Team sports (team anything, to be honest) are not for me.

In high school I tried a LOT of different activities. Our PE program was pretty darn amazing. Nothing carried into my adulthood except...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 24 - Fitness First, For Me.

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:38:22 EST

Day 24. When did you incorporate fitness goals into your healthy lifestyle? (Before starting to lose weight, during weight loss, after goal weight, etc.)

This time around fitness goals came FIRST. I had been going to physical therapy for an arm injury for 6 months when I was cleared to join the gym. Early in those 6 months I dieted and lost 20 pounds. I then hit a calorie budget of 1200 calories a day AND some life stresses. I just could not eat so little AND cope with stress ...

I did it! 26:34

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:16:44 EST

From my earlier post on fitness goals:

"1. Improve my running speed and endurance. Not knowing the hills of today's course, my goal is to simply be under 30 minutes. If the hills aren't so bad that I have to walk some of it, I'd really like to finish in 27 minutes or less."

The hills weren't bad. There were lots of LONG uphill stretches but no crazy hills. Long, shallow uphill I can do! I beat 27 minutes - 26:34.

Thanks (NOT!) to the person burning alon...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 23 - Fitness Goals

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 08:19:05 EST

Day 23. What are your current fitness goals?

Very timely question on the morning of my second 5K. I don't believe I did that on purpose!

1. Improve my running speed and endurance. Not knowing the hills of today's course, my goal is to simply be under 30 minutes. If the hills aren't so bad that I have to walk some of it, I'd really like to finish in 27 minutes or less.

2. Achieve as low a body fat percentage as I can without affecting my cycles. I don't...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 22 - Scheduled Fitness

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 08:52:01 EST

Day 22: What is your current workout/fitness routine?

I'll start off by saying I put my workouts into my calendar just like any other appointment. I don't 'have' time for fitness. I MAKE time for fitness.

Right now my schedule looks like this:

Strength training Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I either go to a GroupEx Power class, do a whole body workout from Rachel Cosgrove's Female Body Breakthrough, or do a kettlebell workout at home. What I do on whi...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 21 - She's watching......

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 10:48:10 EST

Day 21. Did you or do you have any disordered eating habits - binging, purging, excessive calorie restriction or excessive exercise? How did develop (or how are you developing) a healthier relationship with food?

When I was a pre-teen and teen and controlled my weight by extreme calorie restriction. I don't know how no one caught on. I don't know how I managed to stop before it got dangerous. I don't know WHY I did it. Looking back it was so unhealthy and made me skinny fat. ...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 20 - Yum, yum, yum

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:59:38 EST

Day 20. What are your favorite healthy foods? What healthy foods have you 'discovered' along the way to better eating habits?

I love a lot of healthy foods. Ones that appear in my diet over and over and over again are greek yogurt, frozen berries, fresh berries, cinnamon, wheat germ, egg whites, salsa, baby spinach (and more baby spinach and more baby spinach), tomatoes, low-carb or whole wheat breads, avocados, low fat cheese, tuna fish, salmon, chicken breast, pork tenderloin,...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 19 - It's Gotta Go?

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:25:14 EST

Day 19. What 'unhealthy' food(s)/drink(s) do you refuse to give up? Any that you have given up completely?

I STILL ENJOY:
-Coffee with real half and half and splenda - every day.
-Ice cream - I have a Skinny Cow almost every day. I have premium ice cream a handful of times a year.
-Chips, like for 'chips and salsa' - I have baked scoops about once a week with guacamole or nachos (healthy toppings)
-Beer, wine, and spirits - I definitely drink a LOT less tha...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 18 - On the go

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 10:23:21 EST

Day 18. Do you have a go-to meal for days when you have to be on the go, no time to stop to eat and no refrigeration/cooler available?

This is a totally selfish question on my part because I am SEVERELY lacking in this regard and need ideas. My big challenge is hospital days where we are trapped in a waiting room. We can't haul a cooler with us and we can't get out to get food. I bring bars (CLIF builder bars and Nature Valley protein bars), bottled water, and fruit. I could ...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 17 - Same Old, Same Old

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:12:51 EST

Day 17: Do you have any meals/snacks that you repeat over and over? What are they?

I sure do. It keeps things easy!

Breakfast:
I always have a 14 oz of coffee with 1 oz half and half and a splenda.
Then I have a stable of 'usual' breakfasts:
1. 4 oz plain fat-free greek yogurt, 4 oz frozen berries or peaches (thawed on high in the microwave for 1 minute), 1 packet splenda, a bunch of cinnamon, 13g of toasted wheat germ. When I need to add some cal...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 16 - Eating Well

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 11:36:01 EST

Day 16. Do you follow an eating 'plan'? (Vegetarian, paleo, South Beach, Atkins, yada yada yada) How has this helped you live a healthier life?

I eat as cleanly as possible given I shop in a mainstream grocery store. On my spark page I call my way of eating a combination of South Beach Phase 3 and Clean Eating. Good carbs, good fats, lean protein. I try to limit salt. I don't eat fried foods. I like to call it 'Eating Well' but that has no meaning to anyone but me.

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 15 - Looking for ideas

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 18:09:00 EST

Day 15. What is your favorite weight loss, fitness, or wellness blog (or website or magazine) outside of sparkpeople?

I asked this one because I *don't* read any other weight loss, fitness, or wellness blogs regularly. Sparkpeople is the only online wellness site I visit regularly.

I do get a few magazines.

My favorite is Eating Well. I think they take a nice reasonable approach to eating. There are no rigid rules. The recipes are tasty. Nothing is s...

Light Popcorn has Got to GO!

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:06:48 EST

DD has a sleep study last night. We planned snacks for a movie but she ended up going straight to sleep. I, however, had purposely under eaten to be able to have popcorn with her. I was hungry so I ate the popcorn. Not a binge, just my snack. And I woke with a fuzzy head and a raw stomach. Food hangover. They are so weird. Last time I had popcorn it was popped with olive oil and I had no issues. I'm a tad concerned that the light popcorn that didn't cause any issues last year is having...

This is life, right?

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:55:50 EST

My daughter needs a sleep study. Honestly, she's probably needed one her whole life but no one suggested we do one until last January. She was in the midst of a bad school year and I just could not deal with one more thing that wasn't absolutely necessary. So I didn't call to schedule it until this week. And they called back (with new orders because the old ones had expired - not a surprise) today wanting us to go in tonight.

This is the kind of thing we deal with. Sleep stu...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 14 - The Moving is Easy

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:25:09 EST

Day 14. What life style changes have been easier than you expected? Why do you think that was?

Hands down, without a doubt, my singular answer is EXERCISE. I can not believe I exercise 5-6 days a week. I can not believe I miss it so much when I have to take a break. I can not believe how much I love it.

It wasn't always this way. It took a long time for me to find exercise I enjoyed enough to make it a priority.

I tried jogging when I was in grad school....

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 13 - Food, food, nothing but food (and running)

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 15:16:24 EST

Day 13. What has been the hardest life style change you've made for the sake of losing weight, getting fit, or becoming healthier? Any tips for making that change easier?

The hardest adjustment for me has been dealing with food in social situations. I come from a family that LOVES to eat and LOVES to eat a LOT and I was really the first one to drastically change my eating habits. Even now mine are most extreme but my dad had a quintuple bypass almost a year ago and now family ga...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 12 - MORE Strong IS the New Skinny

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:27:02 EST

Day 12. Post a picture of your inspiration. Thinspiration if that's your thing. Fitspiration if that's what you're after. Heathspiration if that's your primary goal. Why is this person inspiring to you?

Early in my latest endeavor to lose weight I found the Strong is the New Skinny blog.

Please go check out her latest post. You'll see what I mean.
strongisnewskinny.blogspot.com/

Marsha is my inspiration. She is my mental inspirati...

30 Day Blog Challenge Day 11 - Strong IS the New Skinny (and running)

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 09:23:18 EST

Day 11. What do you like most about your body? Has what you like most about your changed as you've progressed towards your goals?

I love how strong and flexible I am and I can NOT believe I run. I'm not surprised that I am strong but it's great that I *look* strong too :-) I've been flexible before but never in a way that makes my daily activities feel easy like this flexibility does. I think that's because as I got stronger my balance improved so I can take full advantage of m...