Oh my gosh, this thing is cool!!
Okay, so I can't write a detailed, fair review until I've used it a few times more, but so far I love it! I set up the watch to do 8 repetitions of 5:1 intervals. (I have to keep reminding myself that I don't NEED to run constantly with no walking breaks. I'm still a beginner runner! Walking to recover is perfectly fine!)
My goal was to run 4 miles today, and I figured that would be about the time it would take to do it (48 minutes). Actually, I figured I'd be just under the goal when I was finished, considering I was "supposed" to run slowly today, focusing on distance rather than time.
My only complaint so far, and this could be because I'm still learning to use the watch, was that while it was timing my intervals, I couldn't figure out a way to see my distance/time so far. I couldn't see my pace or how far I'd gotten. I could only see how many more intervals I had to do. Hm... I'd like to be able to at least see my pace during intervals! I know my sister's 405 lets her see the distance, so maybe I'm just missing something.
So when my watch beeped after the last walking interval, I was shocked to see that I had done 4.05 miles! I went over my goal for the day! Yippee! I did 4.05 miles in 48 minutes, which I'm pretty proud of, especially considering I felt like I was going really slow today.
It was fun to not set a route before I went out! Usually I'm using mapping programs and trying to figure out an easy route that takes me the distance I'm looking for that day. It was fun to just go out and run, choosing streets when I felt like it. My town has crazy hills, though, so I ended up walking a lot of my last running interval as it was a pretty steep uphill.
I can't tell you how cool it is to come home and upload my run to my Garmin Training Center! It tells me my pace (the first three miles were all 9:28! I slipped to 11:58 by the last mile, though), elevation, distance, speed, etc. Very cool!
I think my new watch will be a very valuable tool for my training! I'm very happy with it so far, and I can't wait to figure out how to use all of its functions!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
The Loop, my first 5k race report!
Holy cow, I'm thrilled! I'm so happy I FINISHED the race, and I beat my PR!! My shins were fine once I warmed up!
I finished with a time of 32:58! I was 80th overall (out of 94) and 9th in my age group. My pace was 10:38, which I'm very, very happy about! My sister came in under her goal at 37:56 and was 84th overall and 12th in our age group. We both had shin pain earlier this week, but we ran the race fine! My shins were a little tight when I started, but they warmed up. Boy am I glad I had advice from so many people! Resting, icing and compression REALLY helped me heal in time for this race! (I'm icing my shins as I type this, too)
So, for anyone who is interested (and for me in the future), here are all the details of my first race:
I slept well last night, actually. I did wake up a few times, but fell back asleep pretty quickly. I even hit the snooze button once when my alarm went off this morning! Though when it went off again, I jumped up out of bed. I had a cup of coffee, then double-checked to make sure I had everything. I realized I couldn't find my headbands! I searched the whole house, but could only find one of them (I wear two for some reason...)
So we drove to Walmart quick to see if I could find another headband (I need a tight one to hold my glasses in place; otherwise, they fall down when I sweat and I get annoyed), and my husband got a coffee at DD. I was so tempted to get something to eat, but I knew that could spell trouble. I stuck to eating my banana, my normal pre-run snack.
We picked up Traci (my sister) and headed to Ringtown. Of course, we couldn't find a parking spot, so we had to park down the road (at the finish line, actually). We picked up our numbers (I got #9! My favorite number is 3, but my second favorite is 3-3's, or 9!) and our pins and everything for timing.
We spotted my Mom there! I was so happy she could come to see us run! She lives about 2 miles from the race course.
They let the walkers start first at 9am, which we thought was a little weird. We weren't sure when we were going to start, so we didn't know when to warm up. Runners were jogging, doing side running moves, stretching and all sorts of things. It turned out, I forgot my camera in the car, so we walked up a big hill to warm up.
We lined up at the starting line (Traci and I toward the back of the crowd), and instead of having a gun or an air horn, one guy just said, "Ready, Set, Go!" which was a little odd, but it worked. It was chip-timed, anyway.
At first, everyone took off ahead of me, even my sister! There were like 4 people running behind us, and I think they were all elderly... Traci told me, "Don't worry, the people ahead of us will slow down," and they did. I passed a few people (which felt pretty exhilarating) and felt great once my shins warmed up a little. The temperature did, too! Wow, it was hot today! I was wearing compression pants I found at a sporting goods store which were designed for warm weather, so my legs felt great, actually. I'd definitely recommend running in them! (They're Underarmour compression pants. I got a Youth large - I'm short - but they make them in women's sizes, too)
I took more walking breaks that I would have liked. My legs weren't tired at all, but my breathing was a little labored today. I think it was a bit humid. The first mile felt fairly easy; the second mile was tougher; and I wasn't totally sure I'd make it through the third mile. But I did! I sprinted across the finish line. My Mom was surprised how fast I was at the end; she didn't even get a picture of me! My husband got a good one, though.
Here are my first race pics!
Traci and I, pre-race. Man it was bright out there!
Racers taking off up the first hill! The finish line is just above this hill, so we have to run it twice!
Me crossing the finish line! I honestly can't remember what I was thinking at that point. I was just sprinting as fast as I could so I could finish under 33 minutes!
Traci, Mom and me. I'm so glad my Mom was there to see us run!
Me and my wonderful husband, who came to the race to support me and to take photos of the event. Thanks!!
It was a small race, with under 100 runners, and I was surprised I placed at #80 considering I thought my time was pretty good for a beginner. I loved staying at the finish line, cheering on everyone else, and it felt awesome when they cheered me on, too! We raced through town, and some people had garden hoses out to cool off runners. It really felt like a community event. One pre-teen boy ran ahead of me and every time he took a walking break and I'd start jogging, if I got near him, he'd start running again. It was like he didn't want me to pass him. I saw him later with a medal for placing in the top three in his age group. I like to think that I inspired him to keep going. EVERYONE, at the race, in my family, on SparkPeople, and my friends, definitely inspired me today.
Thank you!!!
I finished with a time of 32:58! I was 80th overall (out of 94) and 9th in my age group. My pace was 10:38, which I'm very, very happy about! My sister came in under her goal at 37:56 and was 84th overall and 12th in our age group. We both had shin pain earlier this week, but we ran the race fine! My shins were a little tight when I started, but they warmed up. Boy am I glad I had advice from so many people! Resting, icing and compression REALLY helped me heal in time for this race! (I'm icing my shins as I type this, too)
So, for anyone who is interested (and for me in the future), here are all the details of my first race:
I slept well last night, actually. I did wake up a few times, but fell back asleep pretty quickly. I even hit the snooze button once when my alarm went off this morning! Though when it went off again, I jumped up out of bed. I had a cup of coffee, then double-checked to make sure I had everything. I realized I couldn't find my headbands! I searched the whole house, but could only find one of them (I wear two for some reason...)
So we drove to Walmart quick to see if I could find another headband (I need a tight one to hold my glasses in place; otherwise, they fall down when I sweat and I get annoyed), and my husband got a coffee at DD. I was so tempted to get something to eat, but I knew that could spell trouble. I stuck to eating my banana, my normal pre-run snack.
We picked up Traci (my sister) and headed to Ringtown. Of course, we couldn't find a parking spot, so we had to park down the road (at the finish line, actually). We picked up our numbers (I got #9! My favorite number is 3, but my second favorite is 3-3's, or 9!) and our pins and everything for timing.
We spotted my Mom there! I was so happy she could come to see us run! She lives about 2 miles from the race course.
They let the walkers start first at 9am, which we thought was a little weird. We weren't sure when we were going to start, so we didn't know when to warm up. Runners were jogging, doing side running moves, stretching and all sorts of things. It turned out, I forgot my camera in the car, so we walked up a big hill to warm up.
We lined up at the starting line (Traci and I toward the back of the crowd), and instead of having a gun or an air horn, one guy just said, "Ready, Set, Go!" which was a little odd, but it worked. It was chip-timed, anyway.
At first, everyone took off ahead of me, even my sister! There were like 4 people running behind us, and I think they were all elderly... Traci told me, "Don't worry, the people ahead of us will slow down," and they did. I passed a few people (which felt pretty exhilarating) and felt great once my shins warmed up a little. The temperature did, too! Wow, it was hot today! I was wearing compression pants I found at a sporting goods store which were designed for warm weather, so my legs felt great, actually. I'd definitely recommend running in them! (They're Underarmour compression pants. I got a Youth large - I'm short - but they make them in women's sizes, too)
I took more walking breaks that I would have liked. My legs weren't tired at all, but my breathing was a little labored today. I think it was a bit humid. The first mile felt fairly easy; the second mile was tougher; and I wasn't totally sure I'd make it through the third mile. But I did! I sprinted across the finish line. My Mom was surprised how fast I was at the end; she didn't even get a picture of me! My husband got a good one, though.
Here are my first race pics!
Traci and I, pre-race. Man it was bright out there!
Racers taking off up the first hill! The finish line is just above this hill, so we have to run it twice!
Me crossing the finish line! I honestly can't remember what I was thinking at that point. I was just sprinting as fast as I could so I could finish under 33 minutes!
Traci, Mom and me. I'm so glad my Mom was there to see us run!
Me and my wonderful husband, who came to the race to support me and to take photos of the event. Thanks!!
It was a small race, with under 100 runners, and I was surprised I placed at #80 considering I thought my time was pretty good for a beginner. I loved staying at the finish line, cheering on everyone else, and it felt awesome when they cheered me on, too! We raced through town, and some people had garden hoses out to cool off runners. It really felt like a community event. One pre-teen boy ran ahead of me and every time he took a walking break and I'd start jogging, if I got near him, he'd start running again. It was like he didn't want me to pass him. I saw him later with a medal for placing in the top three in his age group. I like to think that I inspired him to keep going. EVERYONE, at the race, in my family, on SparkPeople, and my friends, definitely inspired me today.
Thank you!!!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Roller Coaster and today's lunch!
So yesterday I was all "Mrs. Brightside," and then last night I couldn't sleep, worrying about the race. What if I can't run at all? What if I try to run and injure myself and can't finish at all? What if I finish, but I'm in last place? It kept me up for hours. Then when I fell asleep, I dreamt that I was able to run the race.
When I woke up to the same shin pain, I felt devastated all over again! My husband keeps trying to help (bless him), but I was miserable again.
Then I put on some pantyhose. LOL
I know compression is part of the healing process (RICE, right?), but I don't have compression socks and I couldn't find any ace bandage, so I thought I'd try pantyhose. And you know what? My legs feel better! When I came home from a hair cut (which is also contributing to me feeling better), I jogged up the steps to my front door, and I didn't feel any pain! I just might wear them to the race tomorrow. Would that be weird? If they're nude, no one will notice, right??
So I'm back on the happy side again. I have a feeling that WHEN (not IF) I cross that finish line tomorrow, I just might cry. I'm having an emotional week! (And I have to say that, as an emotional eater, I've been doing well at sticking to my ranges and making sure I don't eat lots of junk food!)
And, because I love sharing, here's a pic of my lunch today:
a mini-pizza (sauce, cottage cheese and cheddar cheese) on half an Arnold's Sandwich Thin with a romaine salad (with broccoli, cucumber, grapes and blueberries) and 1 tbsp of light balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
I'll have a second lunch (hubby calls me a Hobbit) before I go to work because this one is only 192 calories!
I hope I sleep tonight! And I hope I have a good race report to write about tomorrow!!
When I woke up to the same shin pain, I felt devastated all over again! My husband keeps trying to help (bless him), but I was miserable again.
Then I put on some pantyhose. LOL
I know compression is part of the healing process (RICE, right?), but I don't have compression socks and I couldn't find any ace bandage, so I thought I'd try pantyhose. And you know what? My legs feel better! When I came home from a hair cut (which is also contributing to me feeling better), I jogged up the steps to my front door, and I didn't feel any pain! I just might wear them to the race tomorrow. Would that be weird? If they're nude, no one will notice, right??
So I'm back on the happy side again. I have a feeling that WHEN (not IF) I cross that finish line tomorrow, I just might cry. I'm having an emotional week! (And I have to say that, as an emotional eater, I've been doing well at sticking to my ranges and making sure I don't eat lots of junk food!)
And, because I love sharing, here's a pic of my lunch today:
a mini-pizza (sauce, cottage cheese and cheddar cheese) on half an Arnold's Sandwich Thin with a romaine salad (with broccoli, cucumber, grapes and blueberries) and 1 tbsp of light balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
I'll have a second lunch (hubby calls me a Hobbit) before I go to work because this one is only 192 calories!
I hope I sleep tonight! And I hope I have a good race report to write about tomorrow!!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Bright Side
I'm trying to stay positive (but realistic) about my chances of running the race in 2 days. My shins still hurt (only when I try to run or jog up the stairs, not when I'm sitting or standing). An SP article says to rest them for a week or two. Saturday will be 6 days from my last run, so there's a very tiny chance I'll be able to run.
If not, I'm looking on the bright side. Even if I don't run:
1. I still get a tshirt for the race! All walkers and runners who pre-registered get the free swag, so that's cool!
2. I'll still finish the race, no matter what. Even if I have to walk the whole thing, I will. I'll finish.
3. There will be other races this year. This might not be my first race that I run, but there will be others.
4. The 5k benefits the rec center of the town where I grew up, so it's for a good cause regardless of whether or not I run.
5. I'm still getting out and exercising, a fun day spent with my sister!
6. There's always next year!
I wanted to say thank you to everyone for your support, comments and advice! It's definitely helped me through this. This hasn't deterred me from running all together. I want to run again, but when I do (after I've healed), I'll take it easy.
If not, I'm looking on the bright side. Even if I don't run:
1. I still get a tshirt for the race! All walkers and runners who pre-registered get the free swag, so that's cool!
2. I'll still finish the race, no matter what. Even if I have to walk the whole thing, I will. I'll finish.
3. There will be other races this year. This might not be my first race that I run, but there will be others.
4. The 5k benefits the rec center of the town where I grew up, so it's for a good cause regardless of whether or not I run.
5. I'm still getting out and exercising, a fun day spent with my sister!
6. There's always next year!
I wanted to say thank you to everyone for your support, comments and advice! It's definitely helped me through this. This hasn't deterred me from running all together. I want to run again, but when I do (after I've healed), I'll take it easy.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
shin pain, 3 days until race.
I'm feeling pretty down, disappointed, angry, and depressed. I'm trying to stay positive, and maybe my shins will stop hurting by Saturday and I'll be able to run the 5k. But I'm doubting it. It hurts when I jog up stairs, or when I try to jog in place. I take one step, and it's shooting pains in my shins. Not good.
This week, I'm just trying to focus on getting all my nutrients and vitamins and drinking plenty of water. Who knows? Maybe it was a potassium or calcium deficiency that caused the shin pain? And maybe if I make sure I get the right amounts this whole week, maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to run on Saturday.
I don't care if I have to walk almost the whole 5k race at this point. I've run the course several times, and I know the time I'm capable of if I can run comfortably. At this point, I just want to finish the race! Even if it's a "Run, Walk, Crawl, Finish" situation.
Send healing thoughts! :)
This week, I'm just trying to focus on getting all my nutrients and vitamins and drinking plenty of water. Who knows? Maybe it was a potassium or calcium deficiency that caused the shin pain? And maybe if I make sure I get the right amounts this whole week, maybe, just maybe, I'll be able to run on Saturday.
I don't care if I have to walk almost the whole 5k race at this point. I've run the course several times, and I know the time I'm capable of if I can run comfortably. At this point, I just want to finish the race! Even if it's a "Run, Walk, Crawl, Finish" situation.
Send healing thoughts! :)
Monday, June 21, 2010
Today's a new day!
I suppose it's inevitable. We can't be perfect all the time. I read this quote today, and I love it:
“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” – Benjamin Mays
I'm an emotional eater. When I get upset, I lose all willpower. I got some startling news at work on Friday, and though I fought the rising temptations, I eventually gave in. I ate badly that night, and it continued through the weekend, ending in a kind of bad run yesterday. (Not terrible, but I just wasn't into it and finished 3 minutes slower than my best time) I probably didn't go over my calories by much, but I had almost no fruits and veggies the entire weekend! Yikes!
Anyway, today's a new day, and I'm getting back on track. There were some good things about the weekend, as opposed to the eating-without-tracking that was going on. I tried falafel for the first time, and I absolutely loved it! From what I've read, falafel is basically ground-up chickpeas on a pita with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with a tahini-based sauce. Delicious! (I consider myself a flexetarian since I often find myself eating vegetarian meals like this one and the Greek Spinach Veggie Burgers I made last week)
I bought a hydration belt for running! I went with the Nathan Trail Mix which has two pockets for stuff and two 10-ounce water bottles. I tried it on yesterday's run. For the first mile, I absolutely hated it! It bounced around and spilled water all over my back (which I didn't exactly mind in the upper 80-degree heat!). Then when I took a walking break, I tightened it, and it was a million times better! I hardly noticed it then! I'm definitely going to use it on my runs now!
Speaking of running, my very first 5k race is this weekend! I've practiced the course several times now (at least 5, I think), and I'm going to take a break from it this week, I think. It's a tough course, and I'm getting a little tired of running it, honestly. So instead of trekking it one more time, I'm going to do a nice and slow run at a local state park later on this week. I'm going to give myself two rest days before the race, though.
Then next week, I'll start training for the 10k in October! My sister and I still want to run together on the weekends, working on increasing our distance.
So I'm not going to let a little "off-the-wagon" session get me down! From here, I can only move forward! Today's a new day!
“The tragedy in life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” – Benjamin Mays
I'm an emotional eater. When I get upset, I lose all willpower. I got some startling news at work on Friday, and though I fought the rising temptations, I eventually gave in. I ate badly that night, and it continued through the weekend, ending in a kind of bad run yesterday. (Not terrible, but I just wasn't into it and finished 3 minutes slower than my best time) I probably didn't go over my calories by much, but I had almost no fruits and veggies the entire weekend! Yikes!
Anyway, today's a new day, and I'm getting back on track. There were some good things about the weekend, as opposed to the eating-without-tracking that was going on. I tried falafel for the first time, and I absolutely loved it! From what I've read, falafel is basically ground-up chickpeas on a pita with lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers with a tahini-based sauce. Delicious! (I consider myself a flexetarian since I often find myself eating vegetarian meals like this one and the Greek Spinach Veggie Burgers I made last week)
I bought a hydration belt for running! I went with the Nathan Trail Mix which has two pockets for stuff and two 10-ounce water bottles. I tried it on yesterday's run. For the first mile, I absolutely hated it! It bounced around and spilled water all over my back (which I didn't exactly mind in the upper 80-degree heat!). Then when I took a walking break, I tightened it, and it was a million times better! I hardly noticed it then! I'm definitely going to use it on my runs now!
Speaking of running, my very first 5k race is this weekend! I've practiced the course several times now (at least 5, I think), and I'm going to take a break from it this week, I think. It's a tough course, and I'm getting a little tired of running it, honestly. So instead of trekking it one more time, I'm going to do a nice and slow run at a local state park later on this week. I'm going to give myself two rest days before the race, though.
Then next week, I'll start training for the 10k in October! My sister and I still want to run together on the weekends, working on increasing our distance.
So I'm not going to let a little "off-the-wagon" session get me down! From here, I can only move forward! Today's a new day!
Friday, June 18, 2010
great run today!
8 days and counting until my first 5k race! I ran a practice run on the route again today (sooo glad I'm practicing! it's a tough course!), and I got another best time, 33:32! I'm ecstatic about my progress! I was never a runner, and now I'm averaging an 11-min mile! Woo-hoo!
I have to make myself take the first mile slow, though. Usually, I've got so much energy, I just want to sprint! LOL!
I'm not sure what was different about today's run, but I just felt really powerful today. I almost didn't run because my calves were feeling a little tight during a strength training session this morning, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I figured if they got bad, I'd turn around and walk back to my car. I made it through, though!
The last mile was a little tough, but the first mile (I took it a tiny bit slower, 10 seconds slower, I think) felt amazing. While I ran, I looked around at the beautiful scenery, and I just felt so good running! I really wish I could bring a camera with me on my runs. The area is really beautiful!
I did take one photo when I was finished:
This is the starting line for the race. 8 days away, 2 more practices and I can't wait!
I have to make myself take the first mile slow, though. Usually, I've got so much energy, I just want to sprint! LOL!
I'm not sure what was different about today's run, but I just felt really powerful today. I almost didn't run because my calves were feeling a little tight during a strength training session this morning, but I thought I'd give it a try anyway. I figured if they got bad, I'd turn around and walk back to my car. I made it through, though!
The last mile was a little tough, but the first mile (I took it a tiny bit slower, 10 seconds slower, I think) felt amazing. While I ran, I looked around at the beautiful scenery, and I just felt so good running! I really wish I could bring a camera with me on my runs. The area is really beautiful!
I did take one photo when I was finished:
This is the starting line for the race. 8 days away, 2 more practices and I can't wait!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
update!
It's been a while, I know! I tend to blog often over at SparkPeople, but I don't want to neglect this place!
So what's been new with me? A lot, actually!
For starters, I finished the Couch-to-5k Program! In 9 weeks, I went from no running experience whatsoever to being able to run 3 miles! I doubted the program (and myself) a little, but it really worked! Now I'm totally hooked on running, and I'm thinking about possibly starting a local running club!
Here's another new thing:
I created a nutrition/fitness journal. I already track my food & workout info on SparkPeople, but for some reason writing it down on paper makes me feel more responsible for what I'm doing. It makes me want to stick to my goals. I've covered the front cover with motivational words and sayings.
I've been doing well on training for my first 5k race (in 9 days!) and I've practiced the route 3 times now, improving my time by a few minutes each time! I'm getting really excited for the race, and I'm hoping the weather cooperates!
I'm mostly working on being a healthier, more positive me, and I'm happy with my progress so far!
So what's been new with me? A lot, actually!
For starters, I finished the Couch-to-5k Program! In 9 weeks, I went from no running experience whatsoever to being able to run 3 miles! I doubted the program (and myself) a little, but it really worked! Now I'm totally hooked on running, and I'm thinking about possibly starting a local running club!
Here's another new thing:
I created a nutrition/fitness journal. I already track my food & workout info on SparkPeople, but for some reason writing it down on paper makes me feel more responsible for what I'm doing. It makes me want to stick to my goals. I've covered the front cover with motivational words and sayings.
I've been doing well on training for my first 5k race (in 9 days!) and I've practiced the route 3 times now, improving my time by a few minutes each time! I'm getting really excited for the race, and I'm hoping the weather cooperates!
I'm mostly working on being a healthier, more positive me, and I'm happy with my progress so far!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
A Challenge
I have a problem. I know that processed junk food is bad for me, but at times, it's so tempting that I give in. Then it escalates and I don't stop. Potato chips, candy bars, donuts, cookies. All junk!
So I issued a challenge to myself: No junk food for one week. (Basically, no chips, cookies, donuts or candy. I'll allow one serving of crackers or pretzels per day)
I'm allowing myself one piece of chocolate per day, as a treat, but that's it. I'm also trying to cook fresh foods as often as I can. Here's my report for yesterday:
Breakfast: 3 cups of coffee, 1/2 cup Fiber One cereal with 1 cup light soy milk, and 6oz light strawberry yogurt
Lunch: Chunky Greek Salad with Chickpeas (recipe from Fitness Magazine) and 1/2 cup homemade chicken salad on half a bagel thin
(This was my favorite meal of the day! The salad was really filling and tasty!)
Dinner: 4oz tilapia, 1/2 cup corn, 7 french fries (processed, I know. Oops!)
Snacks: 1oz cashews, 1 clementine, 1/2 bagel thin with 1 tbsp peanut butter, 4 pretzels, 1 mini York peppermint pattie, 1/4 cup ice cream
I disappointed myself by not exercising yesterday. I wanted to work on my arms yesterday, but it didn't happen. Today I'll be running, and I just might try to get in some strength training, too. I've had a problem in the past of doing too much at once and hurting my back in the process, so I'm trying to take it slow this time around.
I'm mostly happy with yesterday's diet. It wasn't perfect, but it was well-intentioned. :)
So I issued a challenge to myself: No junk food for one week. (Basically, no chips, cookies, donuts or candy. I'll allow one serving of crackers or pretzels per day)
I'm allowing myself one piece of chocolate per day, as a treat, but that's it. I'm also trying to cook fresh foods as often as I can. Here's my report for yesterday:
Breakfast: 3 cups of coffee, 1/2 cup Fiber One cereal with 1 cup light soy milk, and 6oz light strawberry yogurt
Lunch: Chunky Greek Salad with Chickpeas (recipe from Fitness Magazine) and 1/2 cup homemade chicken salad on half a bagel thin
(This was my favorite meal of the day! The salad was really filling and tasty!)
Dinner: 4oz tilapia, 1/2 cup corn, 7 french fries (processed, I know. Oops!)
Snacks: 1oz cashews, 1 clementine, 1/2 bagel thin with 1 tbsp peanut butter, 4 pretzels, 1 mini York peppermint pattie, 1/4 cup ice cream
I disappointed myself by not exercising yesterday. I wanted to work on my arms yesterday, but it didn't happen. Today I'll be running, and I just might try to get in some strength training, too. I've had a problem in the past of doing too much at once and hurting my back in the process, so I'm trying to take it slow this time around.
I'm mostly happy with yesterday's diet. It wasn't perfect, but it was well-intentioned. :)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Food Revolution
I just discovered Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I can tell I'm going to love the show, but it's also going to make me angry...
I love that the message of the show is to help Americans eat healthier, particularly for the sake of children who are brainwashed into making horrible food choices. The state of our cafeteria/school lunch programs is disgusting! :-(
It's all about making healthier choices and cooking fresh foods rather than processed crap. It's how my husband has lost over 30lbs in the past 3 months. He still gets to eat a lot; we just don't buy processed foods nearly as much as we did before. And we can both tell the difference! Yesterday, I had microwave mini-cheeseburgers for lunch, and my stomach was killing me for the rest of the day! That crap is no good for me! (I, apparently, need a reminder every so often)
For fun, we like to go through the frozen section at grocery stores and look at the nutritional information on the foods we used to eat on a daily basis. It's insane! It's no wonder we both kept gaining weight, we felt tired all the time, and got winded walking down the street!
It's not about eating lettuce all the time, either. Healthy foods can taste really great, and the preparation time isn't much different than the processed stuff.
...now if I can get them to make more fresh foods at work. We cook food for our hot food bar every day, and we're actually required to offer a certain amount of "finger foods" which consist of things like french fries, chicken tenders, pierogies, mozzarella sticks, etc. Those are always the things that sell first. Most of our main courses are frozen, too. We just put them in a steamer to thaw and heat them, basically. The few dishes we sometimes cook fresh are things like macaroni and cheese and haluski, both very unhealthy. We do serve fresh fish often, but it's usually soaked in butter. We cook over half of what we serve in a deep-fryer... Gross!
I don't want to sound preachy or act like I know how everyone should live their lives... but you'll live longer if you take care of yourself. And if you don't care about yourself, do it for your family, your children. They deserve to feel healthy and happy and to live a long life. Right?
jamieoliver.com
Sign the petition to show you care about the health and future of our nation's children: Food Revolution Petition
I love that the message of the show is to help Americans eat healthier, particularly for the sake of children who are brainwashed into making horrible food choices. The state of our cafeteria/school lunch programs is disgusting! :-(
It's all about making healthier choices and cooking fresh foods rather than processed crap. It's how my husband has lost over 30lbs in the past 3 months. He still gets to eat a lot; we just don't buy processed foods nearly as much as we did before. And we can both tell the difference! Yesterday, I had microwave mini-cheeseburgers for lunch, and my stomach was killing me for the rest of the day! That crap is no good for me! (I, apparently, need a reminder every so often)
For fun, we like to go through the frozen section at grocery stores and look at the nutritional information on the foods we used to eat on a daily basis. It's insane! It's no wonder we both kept gaining weight, we felt tired all the time, and got winded walking down the street!
It's not about eating lettuce all the time, either. Healthy foods can taste really great, and the preparation time isn't much different than the processed stuff.
...now if I can get them to make more fresh foods at work. We cook food for our hot food bar every day, and we're actually required to offer a certain amount of "finger foods" which consist of things like french fries, chicken tenders, pierogies, mozzarella sticks, etc. Those are always the things that sell first. Most of our main courses are frozen, too. We just put them in a steamer to thaw and heat them, basically. The few dishes we sometimes cook fresh are things like macaroni and cheese and haluski, both very unhealthy. We do serve fresh fish often, but it's usually soaked in butter. We cook over half of what we serve in a deep-fryer... Gross!
I don't want to sound preachy or act like I know how everyone should live their lives... but you'll live longer if you take care of yourself. And if you don't care about yourself, do it for your family, your children. They deserve to feel healthy and happy and to live a long life. Right?
jamieoliver.com
Sign the petition to show you care about the health and future of our nation's children: Food Revolution Petition
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Why I Love Running
When I run, I feel invincible. I feel like I’m capable of anything and everything. I feel like nothing can touch me or ruin my day.
I was never in very good shape growing up. I was thin, but had no real strength. We had this test in high school where you had to try to run a mile in under ten minutes. Forget it! I couldn’t jog for more than a minute or two at a time, let alone that distance in that time! Over the years, I just grew to believe that I couldn’t run, that it wasn’t in me.
Then my sister started training for a 5k. I thought she was nuts, but I soon followed her progress with pride. I wondered if I could do the same thing, but I had a few false starts. I didn’t research properly and both times I started a training program, I suffered pain and slight injury. It turned me off to running even more.
However, I thought I’d give it one more try. This time, I did my research first and talked to my sister (now pretty much an expert in running). Then I started the Couch to 5k program. I was amazed that it was both challenging and fun! It was difficult, but not to the point where I couldn’t do it. Jogging for 1-2 minutes at a time was something that was feasible for me, and continuing from there wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
Today I finished my Week 4, Day 1 training. I jogged two intervals of 5 minutes at one time! I never thought I could do that! I’m proving to myself everyday that I’m capable of more than I ever thought I could do. There’s this rush when I’m running, this awesome feeling of, “I can do this! I can do anything!”
Sure, it’s hard at times, and I can’t say I’m never sore from this training. It’s so worth it, though, for that exhilarating, invincible feeling and for knowing that at the age of 30, I’m probably in the best shape of my life!
I’m almost halfway through this 5k training program, and I’m looking forward to each running day. By the end, I’ll be jogging for 25 minutes at a time! Right now, that seems a little scary to me, but so did 5 minutes, and I did that today! I know I can do it.
I can’t wait for my first 5k race! And eventually I’m going to do that ten-minute mile!
Couch to 5k Program!
I was never in very good shape growing up. I was thin, but had no real strength. We had this test in high school where you had to try to run a mile in under ten minutes. Forget it! I couldn’t jog for more than a minute or two at a time, let alone that distance in that time! Over the years, I just grew to believe that I couldn’t run, that it wasn’t in me.
Then my sister started training for a 5k. I thought she was nuts, but I soon followed her progress with pride. I wondered if I could do the same thing, but I had a few false starts. I didn’t research properly and both times I started a training program, I suffered pain and slight injury. It turned me off to running even more.
However, I thought I’d give it one more try. This time, I did my research first and talked to my sister (now pretty much an expert in running). Then I started the Couch to 5k program. I was amazed that it was both challenging and fun! It was difficult, but not to the point where I couldn’t do it. Jogging for 1-2 minutes at a time was something that was feasible for me, and continuing from there wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
Today I finished my Week 4, Day 1 training. I jogged two intervals of 5 minutes at one time! I never thought I could do that! I’m proving to myself everyday that I’m capable of more than I ever thought I could do. There’s this rush when I’m running, this awesome feeling of, “I can do this! I can do anything!”
Sure, it’s hard at times, and I can’t say I’m never sore from this training. It’s so worth it, though, for that exhilarating, invincible feeling and for knowing that at the age of 30, I’m probably in the best shape of my life!
I’m almost halfway through this 5k training program, and I’m looking forward to each running day. By the end, I’ll be jogging for 25 minutes at a time! Right now, that seems a little scary to me, but so did 5 minutes, and I did that today! I know I can do it.
I can’t wait for my first 5k race! And eventually I’m going to do that ten-minute mile!
Couch to 5k Program!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
You live, you learn.
My husband and I both thought we'd be okay to go slightly off our "diets," by splurging at my birthday party on Sunday. Problem is, we started Saturday and didn't get back on track until today!
We feel terrible! Not guilt, but physically, we feel icky. We're both bloated and having intestinal pains and stuff. Nothing dire, just a general feeling of discomfort. Sometimes you don't realize how great you feel when you're eating healthy until you fall off the wagon and splurge on stuff that's not so good for you.
We did have plenty of healthy options at the party, fruits & veggies, sushi, and ginger chicken. But we also had chocolate cake and cookies and lots of pasta... They're okay in moderation, but we didn't feel like moderating ourselves. (Oh, and the splurging on Saturday started with a trip to McD's...)
Oh well, it's a new week, and we're even stronger in our resolve to eat healthy. We want to feel good again!
I started a new 30-day challenge on EA Sports Active yesterday, and I'm enjoying it. I moved up to medium-intensity so the workouts are a little longer with more reps of each exercise. I also set a goal to do 1200 fitness minutes for February, and two days in, I've got 107 minutes, so I think I'm doing well on that.
I also started the couch to 5k program again. I think I'm a little past the "couch" starting point (I know I can jog in place at least 5 minutes), but that's where I'm starting anyway. This program involves alternating periods of jogging and walking 3 times per week, gradually working in more jogging and less walking, so that by the end of the 6 weeks, you're jogging 5k (3.1 miles). More info: www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Stats (now that I'm back on track):
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Kelloggs All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes with a banana and soy milk
Lunch: Bean and Pasta Soup (recipe: www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/B
ean-and-Pasta-Soup ) and a big salad
Dinner: tuna salad on Arnold's multi-grain sandwich thin
Snacks: 1/4 cup mixed nuts, 1/2 c whipped pineapple dessert, 15 wheat thins fiber selects crackers
I can still have 350 calories after that to reach the top of my range, and I need more protein, so I'll probably have more nuts or some peanut butter or something. (I'm working tonight, which explains my small dinner)
Fitness:
EA Sports Active: 25 minutes, 97 calories
Wii Fit Yoga: 10 minutes, 17 calories
Wii Fit Strength Training: 10 minutes, 22 calories
Wii Fit Aerobics: 11 minutes, 36 calories
Wii Fit Games: 4 minutes, 9 calories
Total: 60 minutes, 181 calories burned
So, the positives of falling off my healthy lifestyle for a few days are: I know that I feel tons better when I'm eating healthy, and at least I didn't gain any weight from splurging. Lesson learned!
My twin and I at our 30th birthday party!
My husband and I both thought we'd be okay to go slightly off our "diets," by splurging at my birthday party on Sunday. Problem is, we started Saturday and didn't get back on track until today!
We feel terrible! Not guilt, but physically, we feel icky. We're both bloated and having intestinal pains and stuff. Nothing dire, just a general feeling of discomfort. Sometimes you don't realize how great you feel when you're eating healthy until you fall off the wagon and splurge on stuff that's not so good for you.
We did have plenty of healthy options at the party, fruits & veggies, sushi, and ginger chicken. But we also had chocolate cake and cookies and lots of pasta... They're okay in moderation, but we didn't feel like moderating ourselves. (Oh, and the splurging on Saturday started with a trip to McD's...)
Oh well, it's a new week, and we're even stronger in our resolve to eat healthy. We want to feel good again!
I started a new 30-day challenge on EA Sports Active yesterday, and I'm enjoying it. I moved up to medium-intensity so the workouts are a little longer with more reps of each exercise. I also set a goal to do 1200 fitness minutes for February, and two days in, I've got 107 minutes, so I think I'm doing well on that.
I also started the couch to 5k program again. I think I'm a little past the "couch" starting point (I know I can jog in place at least 5 minutes), but that's where I'm starting anyway. This program involves alternating periods of jogging and walking 3 times per week, gradually working in more jogging and less walking, so that by the end of the 6 weeks, you're jogging 5k (3.1 miles). More info: www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
Stats (now that I'm back on track):
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Kelloggs All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes with a banana and soy milk
Lunch: Bean and Pasta Soup (recipe: www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/B
ean-and-Pasta-Soup ) and a big salad
Dinner: tuna salad on Arnold's multi-grain sandwich thin
Snacks: 1/4 cup mixed nuts, 1/2 c whipped pineapple dessert, 15 wheat thins fiber selects crackers
I can still have 350 calories after that to reach the top of my range, and I need more protein, so I'll probably have more nuts or some peanut butter or something. (I'm working tonight, which explains my small dinner)
Fitness:
EA Sports Active: 25 minutes, 97 calories
Wii Fit Yoga: 10 minutes, 17 calories
Wii Fit Strength Training: 10 minutes, 22 calories
Wii Fit Aerobics: 11 minutes, 36 calories
Wii Fit Games: 4 minutes, 9 calories
Total: 60 minutes, 181 calories burned
So, the positives of falling off my healthy lifestyle for a few days are: I know that I feel tons better when I'm eating healthy, and at least I didn't gain any weight from splurging. Lesson learned!
My twin and I at our 30th birthday party!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
One Week!
One week from today, I turn 30!
Maybe that's why I'm on this latest health kick... Nah, I kind of doubt it. I started getting healthy years ago. It's been an ongoing process with ups and downs.
Starting February 1st, I'll be doing another 30-day challenge on EA Sports Active. My sister's going to start the same day, so we can encourage each other to finish. I'm also thinking of starting the couch to 5k program again. Last time I made the horrible mistake of not waiting long enough after eating to start jogging... Horrible pain in my stomach! Blech!
Today I did some yoga and some fun games in the Wii Fit Plus. I thought I'd try a running one, and it was about 45 minutes after I had breakfast (cereal and a banana). Didn't wait long enough again. I really hate that pain! I waited another half hour and tried running again, and it came back again.
I just have to work on my timing. I usually get up and workout before I eat (which is probably not a great idea...), then I have breakfast. If I'm going to run, too, I'm going to have to try to fit that in somewhere... And I don't want to be doing too much at once, either.
Yesterday, I had two halves of a candy bar... Mr. J bought them from a charity raising money for cancer research. It was too difficult to resist... and then I had a couple swedish fish before bed. That's a tough time for me, I think.
New product:
Wheat Thins make a new cracker called Fiber Selects. Each serving (18 crackers) has only 120 calories and 5g of fiber! Woo-hoo!! The Garden Vegetable flavor is pretty good. When I first tried increasing my fiber, I had a difficult time getting the 25-35g required. I considered using a supplement, but I kept trying for it naturally. Now I have to watch to make sure I don't get too much! But for those days I'm a little behind, these crackers will help out!
Totals for today:
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Frosted Mini-Wheats, banana, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 8oz Trop50 orange juice
Lunch: Homemade Wonton Ravioli (and probably a big salad and some grapefruit)
Dinner: 2oz Lite Turkey on Arnold's Sandwich Thin, 18 Wheat Thin Fiber Selects crackers
Snack: Hershey's Almond Bar
Fitness:
Wii Fit Yoga: 10 minutes, 14 calories
Wii Fit Games & Running: 10 minutes, 21 calories
EA Sports Active: 15 minutes, 62 calories
Total: 35 minutes, 97 calories burned.
Good news for my husband: He lost 10lbs since starting January 5th! He fluctuates 2-3 lbs per day, though (and once he went up 5.5lbs in one day!) He's learning that he can't go completely off his diet on weekends and still expect to keep the weight off. I think it's okay to give yourself a treat, but he can't start eating fast food every weekend...
Maybe that's why I'm on this latest health kick... Nah, I kind of doubt it. I started getting healthy years ago. It's been an ongoing process with ups and downs.
Starting February 1st, I'll be doing another 30-day challenge on EA Sports Active. My sister's going to start the same day, so we can encourage each other to finish. I'm also thinking of starting the couch to 5k program again. Last time I made the horrible mistake of not waiting long enough after eating to start jogging... Horrible pain in my stomach! Blech!
Today I did some yoga and some fun games in the Wii Fit Plus. I thought I'd try a running one, and it was about 45 minutes after I had breakfast (cereal and a banana). Didn't wait long enough again. I really hate that pain! I waited another half hour and tried running again, and it came back again.
I just have to work on my timing. I usually get up and workout before I eat (which is probably not a great idea...), then I have breakfast. If I'm going to run, too, I'm going to have to try to fit that in somewhere... And I don't want to be doing too much at once, either.
Yesterday, I had two halves of a candy bar... Mr. J bought them from a charity raising money for cancer research. It was too difficult to resist... and then I had a couple swedish fish before bed. That's a tough time for me, I think.
New product:
Wheat Thins make a new cracker called Fiber Selects. Each serving (18 crackers) has only 120 calories and 5g of fiber! Woo-hoo!! The Garden Vegetable flavor is pretty good. When I first tried increasing my fiber, I had a difficult time getting the 25-35g required. I considered using a supplement, but I kept trying for it naturally. Now I have to watch to make sure I don't get too much! But for those days I'm a little behind, these crackers will help out!
Totals for today:
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Frosted Mini-Wheats, banana, 1 tbsp peanut butter, 8oz Trop50 orange juice
Lunch: Homemade Wonton Ravioli (and probably a big salad and some grapefruit)
Dinner: 2oz Lite Turkey on Arnold's Sandwich Thin, 18 Wheat Thin Fiber Selects crackers
Snack: Hershey's Almond Bar
Fitness:
Wii Fit Yoga: 10 minutes, 14 calories
Wii Fit Games & Running: 10 minutes, 21 calories
EA Sports Active: 15 minutes, 62 calories
Total: 35 minutes, 97 calories burned.
Good news for my husband: He lost 10lbs since starting January 5th! He fluctuates 2-3 lbs per day, though (and once he went up 5.5lbs in one day!) He's learning that he can't go completely off his diet on weekends and still expect to keep the weight off. I think it's okay to give yourself a treat, but he can't start eating fast food every weekend...
Sunday, January 24, 2010
lost another pound
I doubt I'll get much sympathy for this, but my current complaint is that I'm losing weight without trying! I lost another pound, a total of 3 lbs lost over the past 3 weeks when I was trying to maintain my weight.
I'm eating within my calorie range and working out almost everyday. According to how I set up my goals on sparkpeople, that's supposed to keep me at the same weight, but I'm losing slowly. The thing is, according to the BMI calculations (which I don't entirely trust...), if I lose 5 more lbs., I'll be considered "underweight," which to me is just as dangerous as being overweight.
Right now, I do mostly strength training and some yoga for exercise. I don't do as much cardio, as I'm focusing on toning and increasing flexibility.
I'm not sure if I should increase my calorie intake a little. I'm afraid of gaining weight, too... I never realized how hard it could be to maintain weight!
Oh, and I had a bit of a setback the other day at work. I had cereal for breakfast at home, then a banana when I got to work. Then I didn't get to eat anything for about 4 hours, which is difficult for me. My blood sugar drops crazy-fast (which is why I eat several small meals & snacks throughout the day), and when my blood sugar gets low, I have absolutely no will-power! Sure, I had fresh fruit, veggies and a sandwich, but instead, I went and bought two candybars! I could have stopped at one, but instead I had two. To make it worse, after work (when I felt better, normal blood sugar), I bought a small bag of potato chips!
I let stress get to me sometimes. I was having a rough day, and I felt like I deserved something unhealthy... I believe I was still within my calorie range (or close to it), but I felt bad for eating junk with little-to-no nutritional value.
Anyway, my goals to work on currently are maintaining (rather than losing) weight, and dealing with stress in a healthier way.
I'm eating within my calorie range and working out almost everyday. According to how I set up my goals on sparkpeople, that's supposed to keep me at the same weight, but I'm losing slowly. The thing is, according to the BMI calculations (which I don't entirely trust...), if I lose 5 more lbs., I'll be considered "underweight," which to me is just as dangerous as being overweight.
Right now, I do mostly strength training and some yoga for exercise. I don't do as much cardio, as I'm focusing on toning and increasing flexibility.
I'm not sure if I should increase my calorie intake a little. I'm afraid of gaining weight, too... I never realized how hard it could be to maintain weight!
Oh, and I had a bit of a setback the other day at work. I had cereal for breakfast at home, then a banana when I got to work. Then I didn't get to eat anything for about 4 hours, which is difficult for me. My blood sugar drops crazy-fast (which is why I eat several small meals & snacks throughout the day), and when my blood sugar gets low, I have absolutely no will-power! Sure, I had fresh fruit, veggies and a sandwich, but instead, I went and bought two candybars! I could have stopped at one, but instead I had two. To make it worse, after work (when I felt better, normal blood sugar), I bought a small bag of potato chips!
I let stress get to me sometimes. I was having a rough day, and I felt like I deserved something unhealthy... I believe I was still within my calorie range (or close to it), but I felt bad for eating junk with little-to-no nutritional value.
Anyway, my goals to work on currently are maintaining (rather than losing) weight, and dealing with stress in a healthier way.
Friday, January 22, 2010
I cheated.
Okay, I'll admit it. I cheated yesterday. I had a bit of macaroni & cheese and a little piece of cheesecake. Working at a grocery store makes it difficult to avoid temptation sometimes!
The thing is, though, that I'm feeling like I should be eating more than I am. I'm following my diet by staying within my calorie range of 1340 and 1690. That's supposed to be for me to maintain my weight. But I've lost 2 lbs in the past 3 weeks. I'm at 104 now. If I get below 98, I'll be considered "underweight," according to my BMI. (I calculate it using this website: www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. Also, the Wii Fit Plus calculates my BMI every day.)
Of course, while BMI (body mass index, or the percentage of body fat) is an easily calculated number, it's not the best for judging if you're overweight, normal weight, or underweight. It doesn't take several factors into consideration, like muscle mass and bone density. For instance, it's been telling my husband that he'll have to weigh 165 to be "normal," though we both know he's probably not going to be able to be that low of a weight. He's a really muscular guy, one of those "barrel-chest" type of guys, you know? (He just also happens to have a gut, lol)
Anyway, that's my reasoning for snacking sometimes.
Yesterday's recap:
Exercise:
EA Active for 14 minutes, Wii Fit Plus (Core Strength Training) for 6 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Calories burned: 55
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal with light soy milk and a banana
Lunch: Salad, one half roll of sushi, fresh fruit salad (plus mac & cheese & cheesecake) :-(
Dinner: Pork Chops with Dijon Sauce (awesome!! recipe: http://tinyurl.com/y9oqbxn), baked potato (light sour cream, chives, bac'n bits & 1 tbsp cheddar), sweet corn
Snacks: imitation crab, a tootsie roll, skittles, 2 tbsp peanut butter
I didn't do too well with snacking yesterday... We have dinner around 5pm, and by 8pm, I'm starting to get hungry. By 9pm, I'm searching for anything to eat in the house!
The thing is, though, that I'm feeling like I should be eating more than I am. I'm following my diet by staying within my calorie range of 1340 and 1690. That's supposed to be for me to maintain my weight. But I've lost 2 lbs in the past 3 weeks. I'm at 104 now. If I get below 98, I'll be considered "underweight," according to my BMI. (I calculate it using this website: www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/. Also, the Wii Fit Plus calculates my BMI every day.)
Of course, while BMI (body mass index, or the percentage of body fat) is an easily calculated number, it's not the best for judging if you're overweight, normal weight, or underweight. It doesn't take several factors into consideration, like muscle mass and bone density. For instance, it's been telling my husband that he'll have to weigh 165 to be "normal," though we both know he's probably not going to be able to be that low of a weight. He's a really muscular guy, one of those "barrel-chest" type of guys, you know? (He just also happens to have a gut, lol)
Anyway, that's my reasoning for snacking sometimes.
Yesterday's recap:
Exercise:
EA Active for 14 minutes, Wii Fit Plus (Core Strength Training) for 6 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes
Calories burned: 55
Nutrition:
Breakfast: Cereal with light soy milk and a banana
Lunch: Salad, one half roll of sushi, fresh fruit salad (plus mac & cheese & cheesecake) :-(
Dinner: Pork Chops with Dijon Sauce (awesome!! recipe: http://tinyurl.com/y9oqbxn), baked potato (light sour cream, chives, bac'n bits & 1 tbsp cheddar), sweet corn
Snacks: imitation crab, a tootsie roll, skittles, 2 tbsp peanut butter
I didn't do too well with snacking yesterday... We have dinner around 5pm, and by 8pm, I'm starting to get hungry. By 9pm, I'm searching for anything to eat in the house!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
All or Nothing
I'm one of those "all-or-nothing" types of people. When I resolve to get healthy, I obsess. I read articles, make charts, keep a detailed log of all nutrition and exercise. I can't help it. That's the type of person I am. 
Of course, I have my off-days. I just try not to beat myself up about them. Tomorrow's another day, I tell myself.
I had a pretty good day yesterday. I worked out for over an hour!
I'm looooving having Wii workout games! It mixes up my routines to keep me interested and motivated. I love getting to see how many calories I'm burning!
So I started the day with 20 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of strength training and 30 minutes of aerobics. Not bad, especially for a "rest day."
Nutrition-wise:
Breakfast: Coffee, cereal with light soy milk, a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a banana
(peanut butter is magic, I swear! I've read that it's important to have protein after doing strength training to build muscle. I'm going to look into protein powders to add to smoothies, but in the meantime, I thought I'd have some pb. At first, I didn't like that it was going to add 100 calories to my day, but then it kept me feeling not hungry for a long time! Normally I'm really hungry by 10am, that's why I split up my lunches normally. Yesterday, though, I didn't get hungry until Noon!)
Lunch: 3 pierogies, fresh fruit, and 12 tortilla strips with 2 tbsp salsa
Dinner: tuna salad on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin, 1/4 mixed nuts, 3 Utz multi-grain pretzels
I should have had more veggies yesterday... I try to have at least 3-5 servings of fruits & veggies per day. It seems like I get either fruit OR veggies, though.
Today's plan:
Breakfast: coffee, cereal with light soy milk, and a banana
Lunch: Wendy's chili, fresh fruit salad
Dinner: Pan-friend tilapia, roasted potatoes and sweet corn
(I still need 300-500 calories somewhere, so I'll try to have a healthy snack or two)
I took it easy on exercise this morning because I was a little sore from yesterday's workout, plus I won't have as much time today. I did my scheduled EA Sports Active workout, which was only 13 minutes long, all upper-body stuff today. I'll finish my first 30-day challenge this Saturday! I'm going to be starting the next one on February 1st with my sister.
Of course, I have my off-days. I just try not to beat myself up about them. Tomorrow's another day, I tell myself.
I had a pretty good day yesterday. I worked out for over an hour!
I'm looooving having Wii workout games! It mixes up my routines to keep me interested and motivated. I love getting to see how many calories I'm burning!So I started the day with 20 minutes of yoga, 10 minutes of strength training and 30 minutes of aerobics. Not bad, especially for a "rest day."
Nutrition-wise:
Breakfast: Coffee, cereal with light soy milk, a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a banana
(peanut butter is magic, I swear! I've read that it's important to have protein after doing strength training to build muscle. I'm going to look into protein powders to add to smoothies, but in the meantime, I thought I'd have some pb. At first, I didn't like that it was going to add 100 calories to my day, but then it kept me feeling not hungry for a long time! Normally I'm really hungry by 10am, that's why I split up my lunches normally. Yesterday, though, I didn't get hungry until Noon!)
Lunch: 3 pierogies, fresh fruit, and 12 tortilla strips with 2 tbsp salsa
Dinner: tuna salad on an Arnold's Sandwich Thin, 1/4 mixed nuts, 3 Utz multi-grain pretzels
I should have had more veggies yesterday... I try to have at least 3-5 servings of fruits & veggies per day. It seems like I get either fruit OR veggies, though.
Today's plan:
Breakfast: coffee, cereal with light soy milk, and a banana
Lunch: Wendy's chili, fresh fruit salad
Dinner: Pan-friend tilapia, roasted potatoes and sweet corn
(I still need 300-500 calories somewhere, so I'll try to have a healthy snack or two)
I took it easy on exercise this morning because I was a little sore from yesterday's workout, plus I won't have as much time today. I did my scheduled EA Sports Active workout, which was only 13 minutes long, all upper-body stuff today. I'll finish my first 30-day challenge this Saturday! I'm going to be starting the next one on February 1st with my sister.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Healthy Living
My goal is a tricky one - to maintain my weight.
Over three years ago, I lost 30 lbs. It wasn't necessarily by choice, as I had panic attacks and anxiety relating to eating and food. I ate just enough so that I wasn't starving. Sometimes I just dealt with the starving... I tried to eat fresh veggies as much as possible, as I felt it was a "safe food," though I ate junkfood, too. It was a pretty horrible year...
I'm not totally over panic/anxiety. I think I'll be dealing with it forever, but the point is that I'm dealing. I analyze why I feel the way I do, and I have coping skills. I'm trying to live more "in the moment, and I'm doing all of this without medication (except for the occasional dental visit which requires half a tablet of Klonopin. That place freaks me out!) and without abusing my body by not eating right.
The thing is, I'm at my ideal weight right now. I'm about 5'1" and I weigh 105. It's my goal to stay at that weight, and I'm doing it by watching what I eat and by exercising regularly. I never realized it could be so difficult to stay at one weight!
My husband has recently gone on a diet (a healthy one, not a fad), and I'm eating healthy with him, because it makes me feel good. I feel like I have more energy and I generally feel good about myself when I'm eating sensibly and exercising.
I'm all about being a healthy me. :) For me, it's about making good choices and sticking to meal plans. And not beating myself up when I slip. ;)
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