Alright, so today was the day that I was to try running. I got the June issue of Prevention magazine and in it was a small article on how to start running. Day 1 of week 1 had me scheduled to do 1.5 miles. The idea is to walk 5 minutes to warm up at the beginning and 5 minutes to cool down at the end with intervals of running and walking in the middle. Now they tell you to run as long as you can and to switch to walking before you are out of breath. They also tell you that it is OK if you can only run 15 - 30 seconds when you begin. Can I run 30 seconds? I was going to find out.
I started out with the 5 minute warm up walk and I was on pace with where I had been in the weeks before. As the 5 minute mark approached I really started to wonder how far I could run. It took me another 45 seconds to get up the courage to try running and I had to make sure I wasn't directly in front of anyone's house in case they might be watching. At 5 minutes and 45 seconds I started jogging. I tried to focus on my breathing and keep it in rhythm with the sound of my feet striking the ground. Inhale, two, three, four, exhale, two, three, four. I glanced at my watch worried that only 10 or 15 seconds had passed and to my surprise I was at the 30 second mark. And, as I wasn't out of breath yet, I was able to push it to 45 seconds.
Now you have to remember that I started walking to train for the 5K at the very end of April. Prior to that I was sitting on the couch or sleeping in well past the time I needed to. I was absolutely amazed. After this first interval of running, I was able to regain my breath after just 2 minutes. Keeping a close eye on my watch, I started running again. Now that I knew I could run 45 seconds before getting winded that's what I did. Right past Coconut's house this time triggering the alarm and he chased me down the road to the end of his property before turning back. Again and again I alternated running with walking, 45 seconds running with 2 - 3 minutes of walking in between.
As I came running back past Coconut's house he started after me again. The neighbors across from my little shaggy follower were coming out of their driveway as a bizarre and ridiculous scene unfolded. There I was, jogging along, a woman of great stature, with a 20 pound mop hot on her heels when suddenly I turned and sort of jumped and waved my arms in a pseudo jumping jack move trying to chase him back home. It worked. I turned back around and kept running, laughing as the neighbors slowly pulled out of their driveway confident that they saw the whole thing.
All of this was a good distraction for a while but on my next running interval, number 6, I realized how fatigued my muscles were becoming. I walked for about 4 minutes trying to recover my breath (those new no-bounce bras certainly squeeze me tight) and my stamina so that I could finish by running the rest of the way home. I did. And I came in under 28 minutes.
I could not believe it. I just ran 7, 45 second intervals. I am still astounded and proud. Couch potato to running in about 7 or 8 weeks. It gives me so much hope that I can do this, I can run a 10K. Well, let's start with 1 mile. I hope to be able to do just that at the end of this 6 week training program. I'll keep you posted. For now I am satisfied with the knowledge that I am progressing. Slow and steady is winning the race.
I hope you will get moving. challenge your bodies, push yourselves, be safe and
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
And Knowing is Half the Battle...
It's a beautiful Tuesday morning here in the Commonwealth. I'm sitting on the patio out back typing away, loving the miracles of modern science that allow me to do so. I once again took the bike out for a 5K as this is supposed to be an easy day of activity. I didn't push too hard and probably coasted the bike a little more than I should have but I managed to make it back in 18:15, just 25 seconds behind yesterday's pace.
OK, maybe I am making that sound a bit too easy. I am not just goofing off on that bike, I pump hard. And let me tell you that several days of biking are not easy on the delicate bits. I have some sore parts legs, back, well you don't need the whole list. There is sweating and huffing and puffing and I even blew by Coconut's house so fast that I didn't sound the alarm. Oh, and there is something large and dead almost at the 1 mile point which I managed to get a giant whiff of into my lungs. That is UNpleasant. So while it is easier than walking, it's not easy.
As I said tomorrow will be a true rest day with no extra exercise at all. I'm told that if rest days are not taken then I will fatigue and more than likely injure myself and we just don't want that now do we? So I will rest. Don't misunderstand, I still have to go to work, cook dinner, do laundry, that sort of thing but I won't be walking, biking, swimming, Wiiing (that's a lot of I's), etc. I don't like it. When I take a day off I almost feel lazy. I guess it's because I feel good and I feel like I can keep going without a break. But I won't. I'll listen to the experts on this one and give my body time to rest and recover which they say will make me stronger in the end. Enough of that.
The verdict is in on the calorie count from yesterday. I finished the day with...wait for it...1817. Right on target. (Glad I didn't eat those Cheetos I wanted.) Now I tend to overestimate rather than under estimate if necessary to make sure that I am not cheating myself. After all, I am the only one who will lose if I lie about the number of calories I consume. Now some of my choices could have been better. Like the muffins, I really didn't need to eat 2 small muffins, I would have been fine with 1 or none. I just wanted to get them out of the house. And as it turns out, we have more cash than I thought so I will pick up some strawberries and Cool Whip Free to have for dessert tonight. Doctor's orders. I'm not lying, you can ask her. It's a healthy sweet snack and a great alternative to chocolate chip muffins.
Not that I want to start measuring my success by a number on the scale, I thought you might like to know that I am down 2 pounds from yesterday. Alright, you got me, I am smiling a little. I guess that whole positive reinforcement thing is true.
So with 2 pounds down and so many more to go I'll keep chipping away at the poor health (and the many pounds) that I have allowed to control me. By the way, did you notice the picture I added. That's me and Honey Bunny on our trip to Yellowstone in 2007. Anyway, knowledge is a powerful thing if you use it. Follow what the experts are saying, follow what your doctor is saying. Get out there and get moving (don't forget to rest), get a smaller plate and a heavier fork (portin control) and when you hear her order the grilled chicken salad no croutons and light dressing on the side...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
OK, maybe I am making that sound a bit too easy. I am not just goofing off on that bike, I pump hard. And let me tell you that several days of biking are not easy on the delicate bits. I have some sore parts legs, back, well you don't need the whole list. There is sweating and huffing and puffing and I even blew by Coconut's house so fast that I didn't sound the alarm. Oh, and there is something large and dead almost at the 1 mile point which I managed to get a giant whiff of into my lungs. That is UNpleasant. So while it is easier than walking, it's not easy.
As I said tomorrow will be a true rest day with no extra exercise at all. I'm told that if rest days are not taken then I will fatigue and more than likely injure myself and we just don't want that now do we? So I will rest. Don't misunderstand, I still have to go to work, cook dinner, do laundry, that sort of thing but I won't be walking, biking, swimming, Wiiing (that's a lot of I's), etc. I don't like it. When I take a day off I almost feel lazy. I guess it's because I feel good and I feel like I can keep going without a break. But I won't. I'll listen to the experts on this one and give my body time to rest and recover which they say will make me stronger in the end. Enough of that.
The verdict is in on the calorie count from yesterday. I finished the day with...wait for it...1817. Right on target. (Glad I didn't eat those Cheetos I wanted.) Now I tend to overestimate rather than under estimate if necessary to make sure that I am not cheating myself. After all, I am the only one who will lose if I lie about the number of calories I consume. Now some of my choices could have been better. Like the muffins, I really didn't need to eat 2 small muffins, I would have been fine with 1 or none. I just wanted to get them out of the house. And as it turns out, we have more cash than I thought so I will pick up some strawberries and Cool Whip Free to have for dessert tonight. Doctor's orders. I'm not lying, you can ask her. It's a healthy sweet snack and a great alternative to chocolate chip muffins.
Not that I want to start measuring my success by a number on the scale, I thought you might like to know that I am down 2 pounds from yesterday. Alright, you got me, I am smiling a little. I guess that whole positive reinforcement thing is true.
So with 2 pounds down and so many more to go I'll keep chipping away at the poor health (and the many pounds) that I have allowed to control me. By the way, did you notice the picture I added. That's me and Honey Bunny on our trip to Yellowstone in 2007. Anyway, knowledge is a powerful thing if you use it. Follow what the experts are saying, follow what your doctor is saying. Get out there and get moving (don't forget to rest), get a smaller plate and a heavier fork (portin control) and when you hear her order the grilled chicken salad no croutons and light dressing on the side...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday, Monday
Is it hot or what? Well, at least it is here in VA, temps in the 90's with high humidity. As luck would have it, this warm weather has done my in-laws' pool some good. I went swimming yesterday and it was a comfortable 84 degrees in the water, cool and refreshing but not so cold that your butt clinches up when you go in.
I did some easy swimming (and a lot of bobbing) trying to work mostly my upper body to give the legs and glutes some rest. Now I have to tell you that there is a reason that swimmers are so buff, it is mighty hard to pull yourself through the water. Swimming is definitely going to be my cross training exercise because I can feel all of my muscles working not to mention my heart and lungs. And, all of this is with very little impact or stress on my body. OK, it's fun too.
The plan for today was to get up with my husband and get a 30 minute head start. You see, I have been having some trouble getting myself ready for work with exercise and cool down time added to my morning routine and I hate to rush in the morning. The alarm went off at 5:20 and as he says every morning I hear, "One snooze please." I knew it was coming so I fully intended to rise at 5:30. Well...as you might have guessed, I needed another hit on the snooze alarm myself. OK 2 more. OK 3 more.
So, I got up at 6:12 this morning and got ready to exercise. With limited time (yes it's my own fault) I decided that the best bet was to get on the bike and ride the full 5K loop. And I did. Not only did I do that, I did it without stopping. Not only did I do that, I did it in under 18 minutes. Oh, and I was at the ideal heart rate for maximum fat burn. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Happy with my workout results, my focus then turned to food, not just because I was hungry but because I need to put it all together.
Allow me a little sidebar here to explain a couple of things. I have PCOS, Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome, which along with it comes a condition known as insulin resistance. No, I am not a diabetic. My doctor calls it pre-pre-diabetic, AKA I'm on the fast track to a horrible disease if I don't change things. Basically what happens is this (to the best of my understanding): insulin is the key that unlocks the blood stream and lets the sugar in; the body wants to achieve a balance of insulin and sugar; my body is naturally resistant to insulin, in other words the key is going in the lock but it won't open; as a result my body produces more insulin (those are the keys, are you keeping up?); more insulin means my body wants more sugar to try to get that balance; more sugar means more insulin trying to open the bloodstream; more insulin, well you get the point, this is a vicious cycle. So, this is why going South Beach is a good deal for me. I deny my body any type of sugar for a few days which allows my insulin levels to drop to a healthy level and in turn eliminate the cravings for sweets and carbs. Now, back to the food thing.
This is the point where real life comes in. My plan had been to go to the grocery store to get the necessities for the South Beach carb purge however, I don't get paid until Wednesday. Now my husband and I don't use credit cards, we follow Dave Ramsey's advice and make a budget at the beginning of the month and when the money runs out, it runs out, that's it. Well, we went out to eat one more time than planned so I only had a few dollars to go to the grocery store and therefore was only able to get the necessities.
Not to let this get in my way, I managed to eat pretty healthy today. I had 1 1/2 cups of Multi-grain Cheerios with 1 cup of 1% milk, 2 grape propels, a medium apple, a Nutella sandwich on a whole-grain thin bread, a Laughing Cow cheese wedge with 10 high fiber Wheat Thins, a handful of baby carrots, a human sized piece of lasagna and a slice of sourdough bread with Brummel and Brown and freshly grated Parmesan, and 2 mini muffins (chocolate chip of course). Now even with the higher calorie dinner and dessert, I don't believe that I have reached the 1800 max I was given. (I'll add it up and get back to you on that one.)
It was a good day. Tomorrow I don't have to be to work until 2:00 so I will sleep in a bit (it's still hot and I don't want to be too late getting outside) and then go for a nice long walk. Wednesday will be a rest day and Thursday will be when I try my hand, or foot as it were, at running. Stayed tuned and...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
I did some easy swimming (and a lot of bobbing) trying to work mostly my upper body to give the legs and glutes some rest. Now I have to tell you that there is a reason that swimmers are so buff, it is mighty hard to pull yourself through the water. Swimming is definitely going to be my cross training exercise because I can feel all of my muscles working not to mention my heart and lungs. And, all of this is with very little impact or stress on my body. OK, it's fun too.
The plan for today was to get up with my husband and get a 30 minute head start. You see, I have been having some trouble getting myself ready for work with exercise and cool down time added to my morning routine and I hate to rush in the morning. The alarm went off at 5:20 and as he says every morning I hear, "One snooze please." I knew it was coming so I fully intended to rise at 5:30. Well...as you might have guessed, I needed another hit on the snooze alarm myself. OK 2 more. OK 3 more.
So, I got up at 6:12 this morning and got ready to exercise. With limited time (yes it's my own fault) I decided that the best bet was to get on the bike and ride the full 5K loop. And I did. Not only did I do that, I did it without stopping. Not only did I do that, I did it in under 18 minutes. Oh, and I was at the ideal heart rate for maximum fat burn. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Happy with my workout results, my focus then turned to food, not just because I was hungry but because I need to put it all together.
Allow me a little sidebar here to explain a couple of things. I have PCOS, Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome, which along with it comes a condition known as insulin resistance. No, I am not a diabetic. My doctor calls it pre-pre-diabetic, AKA I'm on the fast track to a horrible disease if I don't change things. Basically what happens is this (to the best of my understanding): insulin is the key that unlocks the blood stream and lets the sugar in; the body wants to achieve a balance of insulin and sugar; my body is naturally resistant to insulin, in other words the key is going in the lock but it won't open; as a result my body produces more insulin (those are the keys, are you keeping up?); more insulin means my body wants more sugar to try to get that balance; more sugar means more insulin trying to open the bloodstream; more insulin, well you get the point, this is a vicious cycle. So, this is why going South Beach is a good deal for me. I deny my body any type of sugar for a few days which allows my insulin levels to drop to a healthy level and in turn eliminate the cravings for sweets and carbs. Now, back to the food thing.
This is the point where real life comes in. My plan had been to go to the grocery store to get the necessities for the South Beach carb purge however, I don't get paid until Wednesday. Now my husband and I don't use credit cards, we follow Dave Ramsey's advice and make a budget at the beginning of the month and when the money runs out, it runs out, that's it. Well, we went out to eat one more time than planned so I only had a few dollars to go to the grocery store and therefore was only able to get the necessities.
Not to let this get in my way, I managed to eat pretty healthy today. I had 1 1/2 cups of Multi-grain Cheerios with 1 cup of 1% milk, 2 grape propels, a medium apple, a Nutella sandwich on a whole-grain thin bread, a Laughing Cow cheese wedge with 10 high fiber Wheat Thins, a handful of baby carrots, a human sized piece of lasagna and a slice of sourdough bread with Brummel and Brown and freshly grated Parmesan, and 2 mini muffins (chocolate chip of course). Now even with the higher calorie dinner and dessert, I don't believe that I have reached the 1800 max I was given. (I'll add it up and get back to you on that one.)
It was a good day. Tomorrow I don't have to be to work until 2:00 so I will sleep in a bit (it's still hot and I don't want to be too late getting outside) and then go for a nice long walk. Wednesday will be a rest day and Thursday will be when I try my hand, or foot as it were, at running. Stayed tuned and...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
My husband had to work all this weekend so I decided to change up my own routine a bit. At 8:00 Saturday morning I loaded up my bike and headed to my sister's house. My husband and I live in rural New Kent county, Virginia, about 20 minutes east of the City of Richmond (state capital). My sister lives in Ashland, VA, a small town about 20 minutes north of Richmond. The town is very bike friendly (I can't tell you how many bikes we passed) with much of the town being 35 mph or under.
This is my older sister, the runner, (I also have a younger sister, that's right I'm a middle child. Never would have guessed it would you? Right.) and she is always ready to do something especially if it involves physical activity. She is even more willing to get out and get moving if it involves getting me to exercise, she just wants us to be healthy and she never lets me down when I ask her to join me. So, I get to her house, unload my bike, fill the tires, adjust my seat and we're off.
It was just shy of 80 degrees with a nice breeze blowing. Add in the giant oak trees lining the streets and it was cool and comfortable. We started by heading to the opposite end of town past the elementary school then looped through a new subdivision. Now, having someone exercise with you makes it much more fun but, add to that a change of scenery and the time really flies by. The next thing I knew we were zig-zagging our way through the streets and through and hour of riding.
When we looped back towards her house we had a decision to make; head back in or ride down one more road and back. Now this road is approximately 1 mile long and...wait for it...uphill BOTH ways. I am not exaggerating on this one. The road starts high, drops in the middle and goes back up on the other end so there is this big dip in the center. Well, I was out of water but still feeling good, not too hot or fatigued, so I said, "Let's do it."
Unfortunately, there is no shade on this road and at this point we were past 10:00 and well above 80 degrees. Now, I think that when you start something you have to finish it so there was no turning back. On the way in, the last hill you have to pull before turning around is a short but steep climb. The bike was down to 2nd gear and I was barely moving by the time I got to the top. We stopped briefly to allow me to catch my breath and then started back. My plan was to use that steep hill to my advantage. I geared up and started pedaling hard. Well let me tell you, I was moving. This is the only time I can think of where being heavy comes in handy. You see, I can gain a lot of speed going down hill and when I pedal that fast I am flying down the road (hoping I don't crash and scrape all my skin off). All that speed going downhill allows me to coast quite a distance uphill. The last part of the road was no trouble as it was a slight upgrade similar to my walk at home.
We headed on back to my sister's to cool off and rehydrate. I cannot stress the importance of proper hydration. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated and at the very least will end up with a really bad headache. (Trust me on this one, I had a terrible headache by the end of the evening.) So don't be foolish, drink, drink, drink water, Gatorade, Powerade, Propel, etc. before, during and after activity. To give you an idea of how much sweat came out of me, I had a layer of salt on top of my skin when I dried off. A cool breeze can be a blessing but it also disguises how much you are actually perspiring.
We checked out our course on mapmyrun.com and as it turns out we completed about 11 miles in about 1 hour 25 minutes. I had a great time and it went by so fast. So, if you are having a hard time getting out and getting motivated enlist a partner or two. It distracts you from the task at hand and the time flies by as you just enjoy each others company. It's Sunday and I am going to have a rest day. I am trying to line up my workouts to match the interval training schedule I want to begin. I may head over to my in laws' house and go for an easy swim or I might get on the Wii Fit for fun but there will be nothing strenuous today.
I have to hit the grocery store today too and stock up on some essentials. I want to thank all of you again for reading, sending positive feedback and the great tips. You're right, preparation is key. Not having the right foods around leads to making the wrong choices. I'll take some time on Sundays to pack up healthy snacks to have with me at all times.
I am also excited to hear that at least one of you is moving again too, keep it up! (You might want to try the Wii game Let's Dance, I think that's what it is called, I hear it's great.)
This was a great end to a week that started off very challenging. It just goes to prove that sticking to it pays off. So with a refreshed outlook on exercise I move into my 3rd week. I'll keep moving and hope you will too. And if you see her out there moving just remember...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
This is my older sister, the runner, (I also have a younger sister, that's right I'm a middle child. Never would have guessed it would you? Right.) and she is always ready to do something especially if it involves physical activity. She is even more willing to get out and get moving if it involves getting me to exercise, she just wants us to be healthy and she never lets me down when I ask her to join me. So, I get to her house, unload my bike, fill the tires, adjust my seat and we're off.
It was just shy of 80 degrees with a nice breeze blowing. Add in the giant oak trees lining the streets and it was cool and comfortable. We started by heading to the opposite end of town past the elementary school then looped through a new subdivision. Now, having someone exercise with you makes it much more fun but, add to that a change of scenery and the time really flies by. The next thing I knew we were zig-zagging our way through the streets and through and hour of riding.
When we looped back towards her house we had a decision to make; head back in or ride down one more road and back. Now this road is approximately 1 mile long and...wait for it...uphill BOTH ways. I am not exaggerating on this one. The road starts high, drops in the middle and goes back up on the other end so there is this big dip in the center. Well, I was out of water but still feeling good, not too hot or fatigued, so I said, "Let's do it."
Unfortunately, there is no shade on this road and at this point we were past 10:00 and well above 80 degrees. Now, I think that when you start something you have to finish it so there was no turning back. On the way in, the last hill you have to pull before turning around is a short but steep climb. The bike was down to 2nd gear and I was barely moving by the time I got to the top. We stopped briefly to allow me to catch my breath and then started back. My plan was to use that steep hill to my advantage. I geared up and started pedaling hard. Well let me tell you, I was moving. This is the only time I can think of where being heavy comes in handy. You see, I can gain a lot of speed going down hill and when I pedal that fast I am flying down the road (hoping I don't crash and scrape all my skin off). All that speed going downhill allows me to coast quite a distance uphill. The last part of the road was no trouble as it was a slight upgrade similar to my walk at home.
We headed on back to my sister's to cool off and rehydrate. I cannot stress the importance of proper hydration. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated and at the very least will end up with a really bad headache. (Trust me on this one, I had a terrible headache by the end of the evening.) So don't be foolish, drink, drink, drink water, Gatorade, Powerade, Propel, etc. before, during and after activity. To give you an idea of how much sweat came out of me, I had a layer of salt on top of my skin when I dried off. A cool breeze can be a blessing but it also disguises how much you are actually perspiring.
We checked out our course on mapmyrun.com and as it turns out we completed about 11 miles in about 1 hour 25 minutes. I had a great time and it went by so fast. So, if you are having a hard time getting out and getting motivated enlist a partner or two. It distracts you from the task at hand and the time flies by as you just enjoy each others company. It's Sunday and I am going to have a rest day. I am trying to line up my workouts to match the interval training schedule I want to begin. I may head over to my in laws' house and go for an easy swim or I might get on the Wii Fit for fun but there will be nothing strenuous today.
I have to hit the grocery store today too and stock up on some essentials. I want to thank all of you again for reading, sending positive feedback and the great tips. You're right, preparation is key. Not having the right foods around leads to making the wrong choices. I'll take some time on Sundays to pack up healthy snacks to have with me at all times.
I am also excited to hear that at least one of you is moving again too, keep it up! (You might want to try the Wii game Let's Dance, I think that's what it is called, I hear it's great.)
This was a great end to a week that started off very challenging. It just goes to prove that sticking to it pays off. So with a refreshed outlook on exercise I move into my 3rd week. I'll keep moving and hope you will too. And if you see her out there moving just remember...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
A Stubborn Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste
OK, so I am very excited! My darling husband went and told some kind folks about my little venture and I am soooooo happy to have read their comments. I even have a couple of followers. I just don't know what to think about that.
Thank you all.
Well, on to today. I have to tell you that this week has been a struggle, I hit a few bumps in the road you could say. These bumps tried to throw me off course and I'll admit that they made me swerve a bit but somehow I have managed to stay in control of the wheel.
Today I could not get myself in gear. I got up at 6:12 and thought, Hey I'm 3 minutes ahead of yesterday. Well apparently that was the go ahead to move like a slug. So out the door I go at 6:39, not enough time to do 2 miles at this point (it takes me about 34 minutes) as I have to be back by 7:00 to cool off and get ready for work. I briefly considered walking only a mile and then my brain woke up and I remembered I had a bike. I managed to do the whole 5K loop and get back just before 7:00. Yea!
I had to be creative this week and it worked out so now, I have a better plan in place for next week. No more of this getting up at 6:something, I will get up at 5:30 when my husband gets up. I can be out the door by 6:00 and will have an hour to workout. Also, I have been doing some reading this week and I am going to try some interval training too. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to run, not walk, that 10K. Well, the jury's still out on that one.
I have also been doing a lot more thinking about the whole proper diet thing too. I am going to take the weekend to get the kitchen set up with the right foods (and get rid of the wrong ones). I've decided to listen to the doc and go South Beach for 3 or 4 days to reset my insulin levels and get off of the sugar train. I am going to take the same attitude with which I have been approaching exercise and not allow myself to put harmful foods in my body while at work. It's going to be tricky. I can do it. Once I make up my mind, that's that. I just have to prevent anyone or anything from changing my mind...sometimes that is easier said than done.
So here we are with another revelation, diet must be part of the equation. OK, it's not a revelation, we've all been told that for years. But you see I have had this little quirk since I was a kid, I will not do something until I make up my mind to do it. All evidence would point to the fact that I still haven't outgrown this unfortunate trait. Hey, I'm only human. I have made up my mind and after all it's always our minds that stand in our way. If we allowed our bodies to make the food choices, they would choose the foods they needed. Our bodies are very complex with mechanisms built in to lead us to the right fuels. Our memories lead us to foods like birthday cake, cookies Mom baked and gave us piping hot and right out of the oven, pizza parties, I could go on. (Where did all that come from?) The point is, I am ready for this and I will do it.
This weekend I have some more biking/walking planned but nothing tomorrow, it's Friday, got to get up at 5:00 to be at work by 6:30. (In case I haven't mentioned, it takes me nearly 30 minutes to get to work.) Actually, I might get on the Wii Fit again after dinner. There it is, no excuses, nothing but the truth so...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Thank you all.
Well, on to today. I have to tell you that this week has been a struggle, I hit a few bumps in the road you could say. These bumps tried to throw me off course and I'll admit that they made me swerve a bit but somehow I have managed to stay in control of the wheel.
Today I could not get myself in gear. I got up at 6:12 and thought, Hey I'm 3 minutes ahead of yesterday. Well apparently that was the go ahead to move like a slug. So out the door I go at 6:39, not enough time to do 2 miles at this point (it takes me about 34 minutes) as I have to be back by 7:00 to cool off and get ready for work. I briefly considered walking only a mile and then my brain woke up and I remembered I had a bike. I managed to do the whole 5K loop and get back just before 7:00. Yea!
I had to be creative this week and it worked out so now, I have a better plan in place for next week. No more of this getting up at 6:something, I will get up at 5:30 when my husband gets up. I can be out the door by 6:00 and will have an hour to workout. Also, I have been doing some reading this week and I am going to try some interval training too. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to run, not walk, that 10K. Well, the jury's still out on that one.
I have also been doing a lot more thinking about the whole proper diet thing too. I am going to take the weekend to get the kitchen set up with the right foods (and get rid of the wrong ones). I've decided to listen to the doc and go South Beach for 3 or 4 days to reset my insulin levels and get off of the sugar train. I am going to take the same attitude with which I have been approaching exercise and not allow myself to put harmful foods in my body while at work. It's going to be tricky. I can do it. Once I make up my mind, that's that. I just have to prevent anyone or anything from changing my mind...sometimes that is easier said than done.
So here we are with another revelation, diet must be part of the equation. OK, it's not a revelation, we've all been told that for years. But you see I have had this little quirk since I was a kid, I will not do something until I make up my mind to do it. All evidence would point to the fact that I still haven't outgrown this unfortunate trait. Hey, I'm only human. I have made up my mind and after all it's always our minds that stand in our way. If we allowed our bodies to make the food choices, they would choose the foods they needed. Our bodies are very complex with mechanisms built in to lead us to the right fuels. Our memories lead us to foods like birthday cake, cookies Mom baked and gave us piping hot and right out of the oven, pizza parties, I could go on. (Where did all that come from?) The point is, I am ready for this and I will do it.
This weekend I have some more biking/walking planned but nothing tomorrow, it's Friday, got to get up at 5:00 to be at work by 6:30. (In case I haven't mentioned, it takes me nearly 30 minutes to get to work.) Actually, I might get on the Wii Fit again after dinner. There it is, no excuses, nothing but the truth so...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Truth Does Hurt but Sometimes It's Just What the Doctor Ordered
It's been a long couple of days...we'll start at the beginning.
Monday: I normally will have a rest day on Mondays after my long workouts. However, I knew I would not be able to walk on Tuesday as I would be going to the doctor. So, with tired muscles, I set out for an easy walk, just to keep going but not to hurt myself. I walked 1 1/2 miles at a nice easy pace finishing in about 30 minutes.
Now the doctor I was seeing on Tuesday was my Endocrinologist (for PCOS). She is a great doctor. She listens, advises and when I need it, she gives me a good "talkin' to" sparing no feelings just getting straight to the point. That being said, I frequently get "the fat talk", at least that's how I refer to it. Now, as I just said she gives it to me straight when I need to hear it and for the last couple of years I have needed it.
I was concerned, as usual, about the appointment because I'm never sure where my blood sugar level will be. The highest it has ever been is 109. Not good. And, depending on who you talk to, it falls in the pre-diabetic range. So, as I usually do right before the visit, I panicked and decided that I needed to refrain from eating any sugar. Well.............that didn't last long. I had a snack cake in the afternoon and then a large serving of fries with dinner.
Well there I was Monday night left to wonder how things would turn out and then I decided that it was a good thing. You see, instead of getting a possible false result, I would get the truth, bad though it may be.
Tuesday: No walking today. I got right up, hit the showers, got ready and headed straight to the Doc. There was no way I was going to try to take a walk on an empty stomach knowing that I wouldn't be able to eat anything until 11:30 at the earliest.
Once back in the room the nurse did the usual check: any new meds, need any refills, check BP, etc. Then it was time. Out came the meter and the mean little finger prick thing. Why does that always hurt worse than when they actually stick the big needle in to draw blood? Anyway, the meter read 103. Not horrible but not good either. A little relief washed over me, it was not the 115-120 I was anticipating, thank goodness. So I did get a brief reprieve.
Well, the Dr came in and we began the usual talk. "What's new?" "I'm exercising." "Great! What are you doing?" Blah, blah, blah. That part was easy...then came the food/weight issues. I didn't get "the fat talk" but, we did talk very candidly about what the issue really is, quantity. I eat a lot. I know this. I even know this so well that a week or two ago I made my husband buy some new, smaller plates. I figured if I had a smaller plate then I would by default reduce my calorie intake. It all came down to this, I have to go to a dietitian and add the other piece to the puzzle so I can see some success. Apparently at my size, currently a size (Oh how I hate to admit this!) 24, it can't just be about exercise. I have to get my weight down. This will of course benefit my overall health and make it easier to exercise, a positive cycle for a change. She tells me that it will also be reinforcing in that I will see a physical result to the work that I am putting in. I have to agree.
Wednesday: They were calling for rain this morning and I had my husband on the lookout for it. I woke at 6:03, just before he came back to wake me. It was not raining then. By the time I rolled out of bed (6:15! I have got to start this process about 15 minutes earlier.), got ready and went out the door, it was raining. Disappointing. I came back inside and my husband had a great idea, get on the Wii Fit for a while. Ok, I have an alternative. I had breakfast first, tummy was roaring. Then I got out the Wii Fit. Now I admit, I hadn't used it in quite sometime but I thought that the rechargeable battery pack had been hooked up to the computer and would have some sort of charge. Wrong! They were dead, dead, dead. Then I remembered we just bought some AA batteries. It took me 15 minutes to find them and everything else that I needed. I thought about giving up. Just scrap the day and start fresh again tomorrow, it was all I could think of.
Then something amazing happened. A little thought crept into the back of my mind, like a little voice getting louder and louder, a phenomenon I have rarely experienced. It went something like this: "You lazy, fat girl! Are you going to let a little bad weather and lack of preparation get in the way? Why have you been getting up so early? Why have you been so determined only to stop now? Just do what you can with the time you have left! Anything is better than nothing!" So, I was able to get in 15 minutes on the Wii. Another small victory.
Tomorrow: I will be back up bright and early and, weather permitting, will be walking 2 miles. Or, weather not permitting, I will be on the Wii for at least 30 maybe 45 minutes.
You see, I really believe that I have found a new resolve. I have what every expert says you need, a short term, achievable goal (10K) and a long term goal (true health). You better believe that I am going to continue to fight myself every step of the way and I hope that soon it will not be a fight.
As I close this tonight I am watching Julie and Julia, a delightful movie and I have to say, part of my inspiration to start blogging. I gives me hope that someday I will have someone reading what I am writing. Someone that I hope can gain some inspiration or perhaps learn a lesson from my triumphs and mistakes.
Just dreams now, hopefully one day reality. So, where ever you are, make up your mind to do something, take on that mountain that you have wanted to climb (figuratively or literally). Stick to it and no matter what...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Monday: I normally will have a rest day on Mondays after my long workouts. However, I knew I would not be able to walk on Tuesday as I would be going to the doctor. So, with tired muscles, I set out for an easy walk, just to keep going but not to hurt myself. I walked 1 1/2 miles at a nice easy pace finishing in about 30 minutes.
Now the doctor I was seeing on Tuesday was my Endocrinologist (for PCOS). She is a great doctor. She listens, advises and when I need it, she gives me a good "talkin' to" sparing no feelings just getting straight to the point. That being said, I frequently get "the fat talk", at least that's how I refer to it. Now, as I just said she gives it to me straight when I need to hear it and for the last couple of years I have needed it.
I was concerned, as usual, about the appointment because I'm never sure where my blood sugar level will be. The highest it has ever been is 109. Not good. And, depending on who you talk to, it falls in the pre-diabetic range. So, as I usually do right before the visit, I panicked and decided that I needed to refrain from eating any sugar. Well.............that didn't last long. I had a snack cake in the afternoon and then a large serving of fries with dinner.
Well there I was Monday night left to wonder how things would turn out and then I decided that it was a good thing. You see, instead of getting a possible false result, I would get the truth, bad though it may be.
Tuesday: No walking today. I got right up, hit the showers, got ready and headed straight to the Doc. There was no way I was going to try to take a walk on an empty stomach knowing that I wouldn't be able to eat anything until 11:30 at the earliest.
Once back in the room the nurse did the usual check: any new meds, need any refills, check BP, etc. Then it was time. Out came the meter and the mean little finger prick thing. Why does that always hurt worse than when they actually stick the big needle in to draw blood? Anyway, the meter read 103. Not horrible but not good either. A little relief washed over me, it was not the 115-120 I was anticipating, thank goodness. So I did get a brief reprieve.
Well, the Dr came in and we began the usual talk. "What's new?" "I'm exercising." "Great! What are you doing?" Blah, blah, blah. That part was easy...then came the food/weight issues. I didn't get "the fat talk" but, we did talk very candidly about what the issue really is, quantity. I eat a lot. I know this. I even know this so well that a week or two ago I made my husband buy some new, smaller plates. I figured if I had a smaller plate then I would by default reduce my calorie intake. It all came down to this, I have to go to a dietitian and add the other piece to the puzzle so I can see some success. Apparently at my size, currently a size (Oh how I hate to admit this!) 24, it can't just be about exercise. I have to get my weight down. This will of course benefit my overall health and make it easier to exercise, a positive cycle for a change. She tells me that it will also be reinforcing in that I will see a physical result to the work that I am putting in. I have to agree.
Wednesday: They were calling for rain this morning and I had my husband on the lookout for it. I woke at 6:03, just before he came back to wake me. It was not raining then. By the time I rolled out of bed (6:15! I have got to start this process about 15 minutes earlier.), got ready and went out the door, it was raining. Disappointing. I came back inside and my husband had a great idea, get on the Wii Fit for a while. Ok, I have an alternative. I had breakfast first, tummy was roaring. Then I got out the Wii Fit. Now I admit, I hadn't used it in quite sometime but I thought that the rechargeable battery pack had been hooked up to the computer and would have some sort of charge. Wrong! They were dead, dead, dead. Then I remembered we just bought some AA batteries. It took me 15 minutes to find them and everything else that I needed. I thought about giving up. Just scrap the day and start fresh again tomorrow, it was all I could think of.
Then something amazing happened. A little thought crept into the back of my mind, like a little voice getting louder and louder, a phenomenon I have rarely experienced. It went something like this: "You lazy, fat girl! Are you going to let a little bad weather and lack of preparation get in the way? Why have you been getting up so early? Why have you been so determined only to stop now? Just do what you can with the time you have left! Anything is better than nothing!" So, I was able to get in 15 minutes on the Wii. Another small victory.
Tomorrow: I will be back up bright and early and, weather permitting, will be walking 2 miles. Or, weather not permitting, I will be on the Wii for at least 30 maybe 45 minutes.
You see, I really believe that I have found a new resolve. I have what every expert says you need, a short term, achievable goal (10K) and a long term goal (true health). You better believe that I am going to continue to fight myself every step of the way and I hope that soon it will not be a fight.
As I close this tonight I am watching Julie and Julia, a delightful movie and I have to say, part of my inspiration to start blogging. I gives me hope that someday I will have someone reading what I am writing. Someone that I hope can gain some inspiration or perhaps learn a lesson from my triumphs and mistakes.
Just dreams now, hopefully one day reality. So, where ever you are, make up your mind to do something, take on that mountain that you have wanted to climb (figuratively or literally). Stick to it and no matter what...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, Celebrate It.
It's nearly 9:00 pm and I have to be out of bed by 6:00 am and I'm tired from the day's activity (you'll soon understand) so I'll be brief.
I didn't set the alarm last night but I did plan to roll out of bed and put on my running shoes as soon as I woke, the first time that I woke. And I did. I got up at 7:45 am, jumped out of bed, put on my gear, kissed my Honey and started walking.
The goal today, as Sunday will always be the big walking/running day, was to complete a 5K in under 55 minutes. I managed to finish the 5K in 52:44, 1 minute and 10 seconds faster than I finished the official 5K a few weeks ago. Victory is mine! I felt so good about it that I didn't stop there.
I came in the house, got another bottle of grape Propel, went to the shed and took out my bike. Then, still glowing from my earlier triumph, I climbed on the bike and pedaled my way to another 5K. I had my own mini biathalon (is that a word?).
Now I'll be honest, my legs felt like Jello when I climbed off of the bike but it was a good feeling. I pushed hard today, tested myself and came out of it stronger physically and mentally. I now know how far I can push myself at this point in the game and I think I'm doing well. Next I have to work on putting the right fuel into my body and that's going to be a harder change for me. You'll see, I'll figure it out. Stayed tuned and...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
I didn't set the alarm last night but I did plan to roll out of bed and put on my running shoes as soon as I woke, the first time that I woke. And I did. I got up at 7:45 am, jumped out of bed, put on my gear, kissed my Honey and started walking.
The goal today, as Sunday will always be the big walking/running day, was to complete a 5K in under 55 minutes. I managed to finish the 5K in 52:44, 1 minute and 10 seconds faster than I finished the official 5K a few weeks ago. Victory is mine! I felt so good about it that I didn't stop there.
I came in the house, got another bottle of grape Propel, went to the shed and took out my bike. Then, still glowing from my earlier triumph, I climbed on the bike and pedaled my way to another 5K. I had my own mini biathalon (is that a word?).
Now I'll be honest, my legs felt like Jello when I climbed off of the bike but it was a good feeling. I pushed hard today, tested myself and came out of it stronger physically and mentally. I now know how far I can push myself at this point in the game and I think I'm doing well. Next I have to work on putting the right fuel into my body and that's going to be a harder change for me. You'll see, I'll figure it out. Stayed tuned and...
Don't Pity the Fat Girl.
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