Pace Yourself

All my life I’ve wished that I could run long distances without difficulty. The reality is that I’ve always struggled to run even short distances without becoming very winded rather quickly. Its not that my muscles tire or my legs hurt, but rather my heart rate gets out of control and I’m unable to breathe. Maybe I’m forgetting to breathe properly or I try to push myself too far too soon. Its probably a combination of the two. What I have learned though is that it can get easier progressively if you start slow.

A few years ago when I weighed a lot less and was in much better shape than I am now, I had begun training myself to run. I would go to the local high school track every day. I walked the curves of the track and ran the straights. I started very slow, but each day, I pushed myself a little bit farther than the day before. The more I did this, the easier it got to run and eventually I found myself running up and down the bleachers too.

I’m no where near in that shape now, but I’d really like to get there again. I found a plan that may help me do it too. Yesterday, I was reading Amy Cremen’s blog. {Amy was on the Biggest Loser last season.} She posted a program that eases you into running at a reasonable pace.

Getting started: Warm up your joints and muscles before each running session with an easy 3–5 minute walk. Do each workout below 3 times per week for at least 3 weeks before progressing to the next level. Listen to your body: Moving on before you’re ready can cause aches and pains.

Weeks 1 through 3: After every 3–5 minutes of walking, run for 30 seconds–2 minutes; repeat for a total of 30 minutes. Not into numbers? Run until you’re tired, then walk until you’re bored.

Weeks 4 through 6: Alternate 3-minute stretches of walking and running for a total of 30 minutes. If that leaves you winded, try cutting the intervals to 90 seconds, then gradually build up your time.

Weeks 7 through 9: Alternate running for 4–5 minutes with walking for 1–2 minutes; repeat for a total of 30 minutes.

Weeks 10 through 12: Run for 8–10 minutes, then walk for 1–2 minutes; repeat for a total of 30 minutes. Or run 1 mile, then walk for 2 minutes; repeat 3 times.

Week 13 and beyond: Try to run 30 minutes straight. If you have to take a midrun breather, don’t despair. Keep trying, and soon you’ll be sailing through your run, no walk breaks needed!

No Trainwrecks Here Either

It’s been a little quiet around here lately. Is everybody still doing okay? I’ve meant to write, I’ve just been really busy. This week was much better than last week. I didn’t stay completely on track, but did well for the most part. I’m happy to say that I’ve hit a small milestone. I’ve lost 10 pounds. That’s not too bad, but I’m not real happy with it. At the rate I’m going, I’m still going to weigh around 200 pounds when we go to Mexico. While I seem to have my portions under control, I need to do better with what I’m eating. I also need to be exercising. As of right now, I’m not doing anything. Nothing. I absolutely HATE working out. I’d rather not eat than to work out. I have no excuse other than sheer laziness. I renewed my gym membership today though, and at a much cheaper rate than I’ve been paying. I’m going to make a genuine effort at going. You guys keep me in check, ok?

On an unrelated note, did you watch the Biggest Loser last night?! I was heartbroken to see Dan go home. He needed to be there more than anybody! I’m glad to see he’s done so well at home. I wish I could say the same about his friend who seems very apathetic about the whole thing. But anyway. The other half of the teams are back now and I can’t wait til next week’s episode!

No trainwrecks last week

Of course I was also sick in bed with both the flu AND strep throat.  Dr. said I’m the first he’s ever seen to have both at the same time .. I’m all kinds of special!  So my temp went up to 102.9 and I’m pretty sure my brain fried a little BUT I lost 10 pounds.  Hey, I’ll take it however I can get it! ha!  In all seriousness I wouldn’t wish the flu & strep on anyone, it sucked.

Salt is the Devil!

That’s what I’ve decided anyway. I don’t eat a lot of table salt. As a matter of fact, I very rarely add any table salt to the foot I’m eating. But often there is a lot of salt already in the foods that we eat, especially if you eat out. Pre-packaged foods often have a lot of salt in them also.

I can remember a few seasons back on The Biggest Loser, Jillian had a team member who was working out like crazy and wasn’t overeating but could not seem to get his weight to go down. There was one small thing he wasn’t recording on his food logs because he didn’t think it really mattered. He was marinating his meats in soy sauce, which is absolutely loaded with salt. I thought Jillian was going to kill him. She had him cut out the soy sauce, and his weight starting melting off again. Problem solved!

This past weekend, I went out to eat with my mom a couple of times. I didn’t add any salt to any of my food at all, but I noticed that shortly after leaving the restaurants that my fingers were swelling and I felt bloated all over. WAY too much sodium! And I paid for it on the scale this week too! When I weighed myself Monday morning, I had gained three pounds back. I could still feel the swelling though and chose to wait until Tuesday before weighing in. All day Monday, I guzzled water trying to flush all the salt out. Tuesday, I found that I had gotten the scale to go back down some, but hadn’t lost any weight this week. :( I was hoping to get get down into the 220s this past week but it just didn’t happen. I’m pushing for it this week though!

So far this week I’m doing okay, but not fabulous. I still feel bloated and swollen some, but I’m guzzling water again today and I took a water pill. Three days later, I still feel like crap! THE DEVIL, I tell you! SALT IS THE DEVIL! I need to keep this in mind next time I want to go out to eat… that if I eat crap loaded with sodium, I’m going to feel like crap for days!

The birthday party weekend trainwreck!

I think it went beyond trainwreck, but I can’t think of anything worse than that right now. My little girl turned 2 yrs old today, but we celebrated on Saturday. I made a cake and ate it, and ate and ate and ate. I think Reese’s kids finished it off! Thanks guys, appreciate it!

It all started Thursday night with Supernatural and Pizza Hut pizza and breadsticks. Then it went to Olive Garden on Friday night. Saturday it was grilled chicken, mac salad and potato salad washed down with birthday cake. Sunday it was Cici’s for lunch and a big burger for dinner. Tonight it was mexican at my brother in law’s house. None of the above are truly good for you, especially when not portioned right.

It ok though. I’m walking (hopefully just walking) with Reese tomorrow, I hope, and I get back on the wagon tomorrow. Wish me luck

the trainwreck crossed the states

Pudge’s last post “trainwreck” was totally accurate for me too (and I think I can speak for Alice as well on that one).  Both me & Alice totally blew it as well!!  For me it wasn’t just my food choices it was WAY too much alcohol.  I can’t even imagine how much sugar I ingested with as much as I drank (that is probably still running through my veins right now!).  I’ve been downing water all morning cause I’m so dehydrated after this weekend.  What can I say though?  We just gotta pick ourself back up and continue on right.  We’re gonna slip up sometimes it’s inevitable but we just gotta make sure we get back on track right away!!

My Train Wreck

Hello… Is anyone still here?

I don’t know about you guys, but its been kinda a rough week. It didn’t start out that way. As a matter of fact, I did well until Friday. Then, this weekend turned into an absolute train wreck. At work we had a “Fun Food Friday” where everyone brings some sort of dish. Usually, its a bunch of finger foods, appetizers, and deserts. While I didn’t have very much, what I had wasn’t good.

My mom came up to visit this weekend too. Friday night, we went to eat at Genghi’s Grill. That was mostly protein, but still had fried rice in it. Not horrible, but by the time I got home, I could already feel my fingers swelling from the sodium. Saturday wasn’t much better. We ate brunch at a local owned diner and then had Applebee’s for dinner. I had a steak and baked potato. Again, not horrible but I should’ve picked a lighter selection. This morning, mom wanted pancakes for breakfast so I made some. Breakfast was 12 points but we ate late so I skipped lunch. Having some gift cards to Red Lobster left over from last weekend, we decided to eat there. I had every intention of getting the Grilled Shrimp and rice, but yet again I gave in to the temptation and got something I shouldn’t have. And there were cheese biscuits again. Not mass quantities, but still.

I’ll be surprised if I lost any weight this week. As a matter of fact, I’m kinda expecting a gain due to all the sodium and water weight. My fingers feel like Vienna sausages right now. I’ll be back on track for sure tomorrow though.

So how’d everybody else’s week go?

Last Night

Alright, so I hurt today. I mean REALLY hurt. My left knee feels like it’s going to buckle with every step I take, and I blame it on…myself.

I went over to Reese’s house last night for a work-out, and I’ll be damned if she didn’t work me out. I picked the video, which was a Jillian special, working out your butt, thighs, back and biceps. Let me tell you, it was brutal, very intense. I ended up running/hobbling into my house and straight for my recliner to watch The Biggest Loser.

I concluded the show feeling angry and sad. Angry that someone who doesn’t deserve to be there stayed and one of the people that DID deserve it had to go home. I feel for Jerry, he’s like everyone’s favorite grandpa. I cried as he was voted off the ranch.

I have set a couple new goals.
1. To get through that blasted video! Reese, we’re gonna PUSH ourselves even more the next time we do that video!

2. To lose 89lbs by my birthday next November. That means losing about 2lbs a week.

I’m positive that all of us can lose the weight and reach our goals if we just push ourselves enough. As hard and as sadistic as Jillian is, I wish she were my trainer. Reese is doing an awesome job in that department. I wish she had picked me up by my hair last night when I sat down. *S* WE CAN DO THIS if we put our minds in the right place.

No more junk food. I have actually stopped stocking my pantry with chips and sweets.
More water. Actually I’m not sure I can drink more water. *S* But I’m going to try.
Exercise. Even if it’s just walking up stairs or down the street. Lets get up and do it. I think I’m going to buy one of those things that counts every step you take. Then I can push myself to take more and more steps.

I’m going to do this! I’m going to reach my goals!

Who’s with me?

Week 2

Hey ladies! Sorry I haven’t been posting much, I’ve been a little busy.

Anyway! I’m happy to report that I lost 5lbs, and I feel awesome! I’ve been trying to eat better, and I’m walking with Reese. She’s totally kicking my butt! By the time we were done last night I could have sworn I’d run a marathon, but it’s alright. She decided to walk faster and add some distance which killed me. And no that wasn’t wa murderous gleam, that was my heart stopping and my going pale at the thought of running at the end of the week. Maybe I can convince her to do a workout with me after walking tonight.

I’ve been eating Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers for lunch lately. They’re actually pretty good. Today I’m having southwestern style chicken with rice. It’s a microwave lunch thing. The pasta/rice and sauce are seperated. You add water to the pasta/rice and nuke it. Then microwave the sauce, mix and enjoy. They are awesome!

Well, I need to get to work around here and finish my lunch.
Everyone is doing awesome, keep up the good work!

My first week wasn’t as good….

…as the other girls but well what can you do.  I don’t have the loss to report like the other girls, I gained 2 lbs my first week,  BUT I did happen to start my period (I feel weird typing that but well we’re all adults here) the day we had to weigh in so I’m blaming that gain on bloat cause I was pretty proud of myself for our first week!!  I didn’t drastically change my diet but I did have a small change AND me & Alice started walking together.  This week I’m definitely stepping it up a notch on both diet & exercise.  I think Alice was about to kill me last night after I made her walk farther than normal and picked up the pace a little.  I’m pretty sure that when I told her we need to start jogging at the end of next week I saw a murderous gleam in her eye.  Well, what can I say .. I want this bad and I want to push myself when it comes to exercise (of course not too extreme that it’s bad for me).