Fitness Friday - "The Plan", or Lack Thereof

Brenda at The Family Revised gave us the "Fitness Friday" assignment of posting about our plans and current focus of fitness. So... here's what my current focus has been for the past 3 months:

Don't fall asleep standing up or doing something similarly important.

Oh, and don't vomit. Just don't. Avoid foods that make you feel like you might. And that list changes daily, apparently, so that's been an interesting diet experience.

And actually, I've been able to accomplish both goals. Hooray!

I *was* running 3+ miles a few times a week until this little thing called pregnancy snuck up on me and knocked me flat over with exhaustion and nausea. Thankfully, my morning sickness doesn't consist of spewing my guts everywhere, but it does consist of a narcolepsy-type condition in which I need many, many hours of sleep at night plus several 45 minute (if I'm lucky) naps a day. And when the need for a nap hits, it hits hard and I can barely function unless said nap takes place.

So, that's where I'm at. Thankfully, I'm almost 13 weeks along and surely there is an end in sight to this... right? I have my pregnancy workout videos lined up and ready to use once I enter that second-trimester energy spurt. Which, after 10 weeks of such tiredness, I can't help but wonder despondently if that's just a myth - my sense of reality is slightly skewed, I think.

Anyone else have fitness goals they'd like to share? Feel free to join Brenda and the others over at The Family Revised!

Fitness Friday - For the Dogs

This Fitness Friday is a little unconventional, but I thought I'd share a success story... about our dog!

First, let me give a little background:

Molly is our black lab, who we got from a family off of craigslist two years ago. When we got her, we were told she was about 6 years old - just what we wanted (old enough to be over the puppy stage, but still young enough to enjoy for a while). However, her microchip revealed something different - her birthdate was actually 1998 - making her, that's right... 10! Instead of 6. In dog years, that's a big difference, especially in bigger dogs, whose lifespan averages 12-14 years.

She is now almost 12, and over the past two years that she's been with us, she has gotten slower, stiffer, deafer, and... well, heavier. Elderly dog issues have started springing up, to say the least! This spring at her annual vet check, I was informed that she was close to 20 pounds overweight! Yikes! She's a thick, stout dog anyway, so that extra weight is alot! The vet also told me her aging issues were going to get worse fast if she didn't drop some weight.

So began operation "Molly Gets Exercise". We live on a steep hill, so every morning the boys and I would take Molly for a walk up and down our hill (about 20 minutes total). I reduced her food amount to pitiful portions (she actually gets the same portion as our Boston Terrier, who only weighs 20 pounds, but is much more active), which was torture for her, because Labs are ALL about food. Its their "love language" so to speak.

Then, we headed to the lake for the month.

At the lake, she spent almost every day swimming, often several times a day. Swimming is her other passion - its hard to keep her OUT of the water!


While there, we noticed she was starting to go up and down stairs more easily, wasn't so stiff in the mornings when waking up, and was becoming alot more playful and interactive.

Now we are home, and for the first time ever, we can see a nice trim waistline on her, feel her solid ribs underneath her thick coat, and she's happy and energetic! Instead of an old lumpy couch potato, she's playful, happy, and active. It is AMAZING how just a little bit of weight loss has brought back her youth. I feel like we've won back those years we thought we had when we first got her, and am so happy.

The point of this story is that losing 20 pounds can make such a difference in just a dog, think of how much more so in a person! Its definitely extra motivation to keep trim and stay active!

Fitness Friday - Milestones and Modesty

I thought I'd go ahead and do a Fitness Friday post today, in celebration of my first running milestone - as of this morning, I have run 100 miles this year! My goal is to do 500 by the end of the year, so I'm not exactly on track, considering the year is already 1/4 overwith... however, my mileage will continue to increase as time goes by, so hopefully things will average out a bit! I'm now running 3 miles or more at a time, 3-4 times a week.

I'd love to go on and on about how rewarding it is and how much I'm loving it, but I haven't felt the running love in a while. I do it because afterwards I feel good, and like I accomplished something. But I can't say I relish getting out of bed while it is still dark just to make myself pant and sweat on a treadmill! I also haven't lost any weight. None at all! However, my clothes are fitting much better and I feel alot healthier, so the numbers on the scale don't bother me so much. And my energy level has definitely improved, as well. So there are tradeoffs for my suffering! If you've ever suffered from a lack of motivation in running, you might find this post as funny as I did (although, I caution that the author is not a Christian and there are some themes mentioned that might be offensive to some).

I've also added in the 30-Day Shred, which is going well. I'm on Level 2, now, and I'm definitely feeling stronger and seeing more definition, especially in my upper body. Unfortunately, its my lower body and abs where I really need the definition ;-) But not having flabby arms is nice, too!

If anyone who reads my blog and might have some opinions wouldn't mind chiming in - I have a question regarding exercising during the hot summer months and modesty. How does one keep comfortable and cool while also maintaining a sense of decency? Running shorts are... well, short. I put some on the other day and Joel said "Mama, it looks like you're just wearing underwear!" The perspective of a child can certainly change ones' mind about what's modest and what's not! Running skirts are cute, but almost more suggestive because of the way the flip around - even though there are shorts underneath, I've heard from sources that it still can attract the wrong kind of attention. Basketball-type shorts are baggy (uncomfortable) and can ride up (even more uncomfortable), and capris and exercise pants are hot! What's a modest girl to do? Any suggestions?

I hope anyone else who is trying to meet some fitness goals is also having success!

Fitness Friday - Its a Love Hate Thing

Its been almost just a little over a month since I set out on my fitness goal of running 500 miles this year. I'm a little behind my goal of running 10 miles a week, but as I increase my distance, I think it will average out and I'll make up for lost time. I'm running 2.5-3 miles each run now.

Here's a little glimpse into what my mornings are like lately:

At 5 am, the alarm goes off. I hit snooze and think about how much I hate getting out of bed, especially since I have usually been out of bed at least once already to nurse a certain baby who has not decided that sleeping through the night is worth his while yet.

Between 5 am and 5:20, I hit snooze several more times, still thinking about how this whole "rising early" thing is really just a dumb (bad!) idea - doesn't a mommy need her sleep?

Finally, I grit my teeth, roll my eyes, and heave myself out of bed. Actually, I just go ahead and decide to get up, but there's alot of internal moaning and groaning to myself. Boy, how I hate getting out of bed!

By 5:45 I'm generally downstairs, freezing (our basement is a bit on the chilly side), and starting the treadmill. The entire time, I'm thinking "Why am I doing this?! I hate this!"

As I warm-up and begin to run, I steel myself for the fact that the next half hour to 45 minutes is going to be mind-numbingly boring and physically challenging. Despite the fact that I listen to good sermons* on my ipod while I run, it is still... boring. I think again about how much I hate this. I count down mileage and the minutes as I go.

A little over one mile into it, and I'm starting to forget how much I hate it. I'm getting into the rhythm of my feet and legs moving, my lungs taking air in, letting it out, and I feel... good. I play a little with the speed of the treadmill, check my calories burned, think hard about the message I'm listening to, and praise God.

Suddenly, I'm done, and I don't want to be. I want to keep running, keep pounding away, sweating, breathing, moving. I don't hate it. In fact, I love running. I have always loved running. Why do I ever think I hate it?

I cool down, towel off, go upstairs and log my miles. Hop into the shower and feel refreshed, healthy, and energized. I make myself a snack, and settle down for some time in the Word before the house begins to stir. I'm so glad I got myself up and made my way through another early morning workout. I can't wait to run again tomorrow!

...that is, until the alarm goes off the next morning, and I start the same scenario all over again!

*here are some podcasts I listen to while running:

• Revive Our Hearts
• Desiring God
• Mark Driscoll
• Christ Church of Metro Atlanta
  

Fitness Friday - A New Goal

A New Year brings New Goals, right? Resolutions and all that stuff? Well, I usually don't "do" resolutions, but I decided that having a long-term goal for fitness might actually help me stay on track. However, the first three weeks of this new year did not prove that theory to be correct! (I think its the rebellious side of me!) ;-)

I did not do anything at all fitness wise for about 3 weeks straight. I was out of town helping prepare for my sister's wedding, and being out of my routine got me out of whack a bit. I also gained back the 4 or so pounds I had lost. But never fear, there's always a new day to try again, right? Lord willing, anyway!

So this week I'm back on track and making slow progress toward my goal. Oh, right - my goal. My goal is to run 500 miles this year, plus at least one 5K race. 500 miles in 52 weeks is less than 10 miles a week, or 2 miles a day if I run 5 days a week. Let me just say that I live with a man (my husband, of course!) who is currently logging 30-45 miles a week. So 10 miles a week sounds reasonable to me. That is, assuming I actually get some sleep at night and get up on time - always the clincher! And frankly, I have to be realistic. This week I've logged a whopping 3 miles. So 10 miles a week indicates there's some good consistency happening, which is my ultimate goal. To run and to keep running on a regular basis.

Anyway, I've updated my ticker to show my progress. Its a start! Is anyone else out there still doing Fitness Friday?

Fitness Friday

Yes, that's right - I'm posting a Fitness Friday the day after Thanksgiving! I hope it doesn't make anyone feel like a slacker! The reason I'm doing a Fitness Friday the day after Thanksgiving is because yesterday was not only Thanksgiving for me, it was my birthday. My 30th birthday, to be exact. Yes, yes, the big 3-0. I survived without too much mourning of my 20s. However, I have reached this birthday with something that has never taken me this long to get rid of - extra pregnancy weight! Yikes! I guess what they say about the motabolism slowing down is actually true!

So, part of my birthday present from my sweet Michael (at my request) was some running supplies. New shoes, and some new supportive undergarments - both of which are extremely important for comfortable and injury-free running. I took pictures of my new shoes but can't find the cord to my camera to upload them, so here's a stock photo:
(I think you know you're a blogger when you find yourself taking pictures of things like new running shoes!)

We went to Fleet Feet, a store that specializes in running shoes and studying your gate, stride, and footfalls to determine which will be the best fit for you. I learned something shockingly interesting there (mom, if you're reading this, don't have a heart attack!) - they said for running, the best socks are ones with NO cotton in them. None at all. What?! I thought cotton was best for allowing your feet to "breathe", right? Well, yes, but it also absorbs all the sweat, and can't wick it away. So it can lead to stinky feet and chafing, and other yuckies like athlete's foot (eeew!). So go with socks made of good wicking material. Now we all know ;-)

I'm moving rather slowly into my running routine. I'm trying to get up early and spend a good half hour on the treadmill every morning. The first week, I only ran for about 10 minutes each day - the rest of the time I walked. This week my goal was to bump that up to 15 minutes of running, which I accomplished on Monday, but since then haven't gotten on the treadmill at all. I plan to, today, however, once people are napping.

To keep myself accountable, I've added this ticker to the bottom of my blog:

Isn't that cute? I put a goal of 100 miles, but I don't really have a goal of when I'd like to reach that 100 miles. My real goal is to just get into better running shape and run consistently every week. Perhaps at the next 5k Michael and the boys do, I can join in!

Fitness Friday Update

There hasn't been an "official" Fitness Friday in a while - our usual host, Brenda, actually has a life outside of blogging, go figure! ;-) But I thought I'd do a little update just for fun. I've been doing some strength training videos off and on for a while, but not really feeling or seeing any results. Then, I got a little DVD called "The 30-Day Shred". I had to wait two months for it from the library, I was 34th in line on the reservation list. And let me tell you - there's a reason why so many people want it. It is serious stuff!

The instructor is Jillian Michaels, best known, apparently, for her work on the show "The Biggest Loser", but I don't watch TV, so I didn't know. But I now know that she is seriously TOUGH. I'm only on the 1st Level (there are 3) and it really works me out. I pant, grunt, groan, and go so far as to argue with the TV and wonder outloud why I get myself out of bed at 6 am just to be tortured. Afterwards, I take my shaky, weak-kneed self up the stairs and continue to try to catch my breath through my shower and try not to collapse.

Michael wanted to see what all my hype was about and tried it with me. And he had the same reaction. He couldn't believe how hard it was, and he's a decently fit guy (he recently ran the Peachtree Road Race - 10K - without ANY prior workouts. Fit, right? Or crazy.).

But you know what? I LOVE it! I love feeling muscles I didn't know I had, I love seeing how it actually is getting easier each time I do it. I love knowing that it is doing SOMETHING! Which is why I torture myself every morning at 6 am, dragging myself out of bed to do push-ups, jumping jacks, squats, lunges, crunches... I know the results will be worth it. I can't wait to feel strong and fit again! I'm already feeling stronger and more fit!

You know, its vain, but my 30th birthday is coming up this year... and I don't want to be a frumpy, overweight, out of shape, 30 year old, tired out with 5 kids. I want to be a young, energetic, fit 30 year old, keeping up with 5 kids! Slowly but surely, I think I will be able to accomplish that goal.

Fitness Friday - The Rocket Science Edition

This week our assignment for Fitness Friday is to list our top 3-5 tips for health and fitness. Of course, at first I thought of the obvious ones - regarding physical effort:

1. GET MOVING! I'm amazed by the amount of people out there who will try every fad diet in the world but not get up and MOVING to assist their weightloss/fitness goals. We live in such an "instant gratification with no effort" society. Sorry folks, that's not how it works. Exercise, being active, actually burning calories and building muscle is essential for becoming more fit.
2. Another obvious one - watch what you eat. Eat in moderation. Don't eat emotionally. Try to eat non-processed foods. Avoid sugar, but also avoid toxic sugar substitutes. If you have to pick one over the other, go with the more natural type! Get the right balance of protein, whole grains, and fruits/veggies. This is something we've been taught since Kindergarten practically, so its a no-brainer. But I totally understand the issues behind poor diet... my diet is an example of that.
3. Drink water! Not flavored water (unless you want to use some fresh squeezed lemon or lime), which is loaded with artificial stuff. Not soda (or coke, if you live here in the south and to you "coke" includes every type of soda there is, except Pepsi, and I don't have to tell you not to drink Pepsi because no one would even imagine drinking Pepsi down in these parts). Especially not diet soda! That stuff is terrible for you and has been shown to help you hold on to weight. Water, its what God made for us to drink. Its good for you. You need it. Drink it.
4. Get some sleep. I don't do well in this area. I tend to burn the candle at both ends. But I've heard studies saying getting the right amount of sleep actually helps with your metabolism and weightloss. So go to bed at a decent hour, get up at a decent hour. Our bodies naturally follow the sun's rhythms, even if you consider yourself a "night owl". Your hormones react to sunlight, so do your best not to throw them out of whack by staying up too late or sleeping in too late.

OK, while I was walking this week, I also thought of some "non-physical" tips for fitness and weightloss. These are also pretty basic:

1. Set a goal. What is your exact goal? The more specific, I think, the better. Just "getting fit" or "being toned" is fine, but, say "walk 12 miles a week" or "run a 5K" makes things a bit more focused so you have something more tangible that you're working toward.
2. Commit yourself to reaching that goal. Of course, you think, well, duh - I just made a goal, why wouldn't I meet it? Trust me - I make goals all the time. And am so proud of myself for creating a goal. And then don't actually apply myself to meeting it. I was just excited to have a goal ;-) So really determine to take the steps required to meet that goal.
3. Finally, persevere - everyone who has set diet or fitness goals knows there comes a point of resistance - a wall, so to speak. Persevere past that point, and you will succeed. It will be hard! But keep your goal and your commitment in mind, and keep on moving forward, despite the frustration, discouragement, disappointment or setbacks you might experience. Git 'r done!

So there are my tips! As far as my week went, it was haphazard. Monday I spent 2+ hours at the grocery store preparing for my first ever attempt at once-a-month cooking, Tuesday I spent recovering from said shopping trip, and Wednesday was my cooking day, which took from 9:30 am until 4:30 pm. Phew! But I did get a small amount of "real" exercise in - I walked about 7 miles this week, but only did one day of weight training. But its better than nothing! I walked 3.5 of those miles by myself, wearing the baby and pushing the double stroller with Joel and Nathan in it, but the other 3.5 I was able to enjoy the company of my friend Marcy, which was much more enjoyable. I also went for a small outing with my friends, Duk-Sun and Paul Spillers, but it was more leisurely and relaxed than exercise. My husband has officially jumped on the running bandwagon. Perhaps when the baby can be content in the stroller and Joel is a bit more secure on his bike, I will start running also. I enjoy the Couch-5K plan alot. We'll see. I do actually own a treadmill, I could think about putting that into use.

Find more tips and join in the fun over at A Family Revised!

Fitness Friday - Literary Encouragement

This week the assignment for Fitness Friday is to share some literary encouragement that has helped me along with my fitness goals. I couldn't really think of anything that had to do with exercise, however, two excellent nutrition books I read recently are the "Real Food" books by Nina Planck. Her diet advice is very simple - eat food that resembles its natural state as much as possible. Raw veggies, lots of good quality, grass-fed meat, raw milk (Yes! Unpasteurized, non-homogenized milk! We drink it when we can, and it is SO much yummier than processed milk. And SO much better for us!), whole grains, and good, natural fats, such as olive oils, avocados, etc.

She discusses how she tried the "low-fat" diet and despite all the exercise she did, she could never drop her extra weight. Once she began feeding her body what it was designed to eat, her weight dropped to its healthy amount, and her energy level, moods, and health were better than ever. She does an excellent job of explaining not just what we should be eating, but why, and how to accomplish it reasonably. Granted, she writes from a secular point of view and discusses how our diets "evolved" with us, but the overall points she makes I find to be informative and accurate. I highly recommend her books! (My thanks to Suzanne at Adventures in Teething for her initial review of "Real Food", which inspired me to check both books out of the library!)

As far as my week has gone, we didn't go walking once. Not once! It was a really busy week. Thankfully, I DID start my weight training tapes (yes, good old fashioned VHS, lol!) and have been doing one body part each day. Monday was shoulders/back, Tuesday was abs, Wednesday was arms, Thursday was legs/buns, and Friday was abs again. I have Gilad's Quick Fix System (thanks Mom!). Let me just say that while Gilad is a bit "old school", his work outs are GREAT - very effective. And I happen to like that I don't have to be overly coordinated, contort myself in crazy ways, or have all sorts of fancy gadgets in order to get in shape - just a few light hand weights and I'm ready to go! I've been doing Gilad workouts since... well, ever since I started working out as a pre-teen! So he's familiar to me, and really, you can't beat that accent of his! So I feel like I had a productive week, despite the slack in walking.

As far as the junk food department, I went almost the entire week without any chocolate, and didn't do anyone serious harm! ;-) I did have Chick-Fil-A twice this week though (ack!) but I always order the Chargrilled Chicken rather than the breaded kind. And I only got fries one time, which is better than both times, right? *sigh*... I'm still working on this area, obviously.

Anyway, I don't know what next week will hold. Michael is toying with the idea of training for a marathon (he's toyed with that idea before, but never actually completed the training) so I might be losing my walking partner! :-( But no matter what he decides, I will do my best to keep at it.

For more fitness motivation, be sure to check out Fitness Friday at The Family Revised!

Fitness Friday - My Introduction!

Judah is 2 1/2 months now, so its about time for me to start getting back in shape! I wasn't in the best shape before I became pregnant with him, and I don't want to fall into a pattern of retaining pregnancy weight. So... I am joining in on Fitness Fridays, hosted by Brenda at The Family Revised! Since its an "Anything Goes" Friday, I'll go ahead and share my plans and goals.

As I mentioned below in my Summer Plans post, both Michael and I are desiring to be more fit. 30 has hit Michael, and its just a few months away for me, and its amazing how I already see changes in my metabolism! Which means I'll actually have to make a concerted effort, which is new for me, lol! However, since I am breastfeeding, I will not be limiting my caloric intake, but instead, changing the types of foods I eat, and limiting the amount of junk I eat. So, less sweets for me! As far as fitness goes, Michael and I will be walking together every evening. This week alone we've walked almost 10 miles! Since we're taking a summer break from homeschooling, I will also now have time in my day to fit in 20-30 minutes of weight training, which always is the catalyst for me in dropping extra pounds and firming up. My body style is more muscular, so if I don't keep my muscles toned, I just look flabby! I've got several videos that I'll use here at home with a few hand weights.

Besides all the vain reasons for being in better shape, I'm excited at the prospect of more energy and to be improving my health. I've got 5 boys to keep up with, afterall! I'm happy to be joining everyone for Fitness Friday! For more motivation, check out The Family Revised!