Stung Into Action!

Renewed motivation. Sometimes, after surrendering to complacency, after losing the flame that ignites our passion to accomplish our goals, we find ourselves feeling the wisps of a second (or third or fourth) wind. After a weekend of beer, cheese curds, steaks, and all varieties of chocolate, I want to recommit. I want to ride that second wind to my goal of being a 140-lb runner. I want that lean, fit body that I'd been working on for what seems like forever!

I do accept the limitations of my body. I accept that my breasts and backside are less than perfect no matter what size I am. I accept that I have an achy back and weak knees that may sometimes prevent me from working out as hard as I would like. I accept that I have stretch marks and cellulite.

But you know what I can't accept? I can't accept that those little imperfections negate all that is wonderful about how God made me. And I can't accept that I don't have control over what and how much I eat. Because I do. I may have to accept the limitations of genetics and biology, but that shouldn't stop me from working to be the best I can be despite those limitations.

Exercise

Today was supposed to be a stretch & strength day, but I wanted to make up for my missed run last week while I was in Wisconsin. So, I set off for a 3-mile run in my parents' neighborhood. It was hot, but the humidity was tolerable and hills were killer!

Then, just as I reached 2.5 miles, I felt a searing pain on my wrist. I thought that maybe I kicked up a stick or some other sharp debris, but the pain was getting worse. I lifted my wrist so I could see what I might have cut myself on. And there, underneath the band of my Polar monitor was a frantic bee! It was stuck there stinging away. I shook my arm and tried to wiggle the wrist band loose, but that sucker was buzzing and fluttering its wings and just freaking.me.out! Finally, after what felt like forever, it flew free. And do you know what? I was still running during this whole scenario! I didn't even realize that I hadn't stopped!

But I did stop soon after because it started burning like a *expletive*! I was disappointed that I didn't finish my run, so I decided to go inside and do some strength exercises, which I've been letting slip ever since I started training for the half-marathon. All in all, I had a good workout. Tomorrow morning I'm getting up to go to the gym for my 3.5 miler (fingers crossed!).

Deedah

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Spoke Too Soon!

Last night after my run, I was feeling great. I was proud of myself for knocking out 5 miles AND doing my toning exercises. I had that postrun clearheadedness, that feeling of what a car might feel after getting a long-overdue oil change---clean, tuned up, raring to go. I ran a couple of errands at the grocery store and dollar store by my gym and headed home for the night.

Then, out of nowhere, that dreaded gurgling feeling, accompanied by nausea, a headache, and dizziness. A couple of shots of Pepto Bismol and a chaser of ginger ale later, I was in my bed---fetal position---wondering what in the world I could have ingested that would turn me from pounding the treadmill to hugging the porcelain thrown within a couple of hours! I hadn't eaten since dinner. I only drank a sealed bottled water I got from my parents' house. Then, I remembered the Diet Dr. Pepper I bought from the dollar store. It must have been that. I wanted a soda from the grocery store, but I remembered that the same bottled sodas were only a dollar at the dollar store. Cheapskate that I am, and in order to save 49 cents, I held out and bought the Diet Dr. Pepper. 

I woke up still feeling queasy and slightly unsettled so I decided I would just go for the 2-mile walk option instead of trying to cross off a 3.5 miler. So I set out for the Metro station in my neighborhood. I felt lousy, weak, and all around not in the mood. I saw the bus coming up behind me and the bus stop directly in front of me. So I hopped on. Defeated and disappointed, I took my seat, mad at myself for wasting a perfect opportunity for exercise.

But I made up for it with a 2-mile walk in the afternoon, even though I wasn't really feeling all that great the entire day. I'm taking tomorrow as a rest day and will run my 3.5-mile runs over the weekend somehow. I'm determined!

I pretty much had a lousy day. I argued with Brian all day because 1) I wasn't feeling good, 2) I was feeling frustrated about a lot of other things I won't go into for the sake of trying to keep this blog uplifting, and 3) (TMI) it's that time of the month and I've been feeling overall out of sorts all week. Just being honest. No, it's not an excuse to be a jerk or to pick fights. And I'm sorry about that.

Life still happens around our fitness/running/diet/health goals, and a lot of times life affects whether we succeed or fail, whether we maintain our enthusiasm, whether we binge or stay on plan. If we lived in a bubble we would all be fit, fast runners with no hang ups about food, right? However, that's not how it is. And the key to our success is to work to make our health and pursuit of health an ingrained function that operates independently of our consciousness. Easier said than done? Sure. But that's why we're all here. We're working toward that goal. And in doing that, we are well on our way!

Deedah

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Some News of the Ornithological Variety...

Just kidding...(you Family Guy enthusiasts get the joke, I'm sure)

But seriously, Family Guy seems to always be on TV at any given time. I found this out last night (or rather early this morning). I went to bed around 10 pm, which is early for me, because, as I wrote in my last post, I wanted to get up and go to the gym before work for my 3.5-mile run and some strength. So much for that! I ended up waking up at 1:30-ish and COULD NOT get back to sleep. I tossed and turned. I kicked off my blanket, got cold, and then pulled it back on. I fluffed my pillows, flipped my pillows, rolled to one side and then the other. All to no avail. I decided that the best course of action at this point was to watch TV until I got drowsy again. So I turned on the TV to Adult Swim on Cartoon Network and, luckily, Family Guy was on (again). By this time, it was 3 am. I watched both episodes and stopped short of Robot Chicken then went to sleep. 

This happens to me sometimes when I know I have to wake up extra early. It's like the anticipation of having to get up earlier than usual---whether to go to the gym or catch a flight or whatever the reason---makes it impossible for me to get any real sleep. When I know that I need to get up at an ungodly hour, I either can't fall asleep or can't stay asleep. Early 6 am flight? Need to catch the Super Shuttle by 3:45 am to get to the airport? Forget it. I stay up all night. Then, I can't even sleep on the plane. For me, it's like the window of opportunity for sleep slams shut the minute the alarm goes off.

That's why I don't really like to make big plans to go to the gym early in the mornings. To do this, I usually have to get up at 4:45. I can't tell you the number of times I would pack my gym bag and work clothes, etc., the night before only to wake up at 4:45, change the alarm to 6 am, unpack it all the next morning, and end up working out after work. Some days I manage the early workouts. Sometimes, like last night, I get too worked up about getting up early that I end up completely rearranging my plans for that extra hour and fifteen minutes of sleep.

Needless to say, it was a long day at work, especially when your job is to read dry scientific manuscripts all day long! But I was determined to get to the gym tonight to get my scheduled run in. I was NOT going to miss a day!

And I didn't (with a little help from some sugar-free Red Bull!)

I got home, took care of the puggies, ate a Bagel Thin with some almond butter and an ear of corn (no butter), and went to the gym.

Where I ran 5 MILES and did some chest, triceps, and deltoids too! So that's my long run for the week. Now when I go to Wisconsin, I'll only have my shorter runs to do, which will be so much more convenient! But hey, if I end up running another long run this week, then why not?

Tomorrow, I want to either run my 2-miler or 3.5 miles, depending on how my knees and back feel.

Till Tomorrow,

Deedah

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Finding the Time

Today is the first day of my week 4 half-marathon training. It's a stretch and strength day, which was great because my knees and lower back are sore and they definitely need a break from the impact. I'm still getting used to running so frequently, and sometimes my body can really feel it. It's getting better every week though. So today I walked 2 miles and will do my strength when I go to the gym tomorrow morning. I really need to remember to get toning in more often.

As the weeks progress, the miles will stack up until the long runs are just shy of the half-marathon distance.

This worries me. I travel a lot for work and have a pretty busy fall conference schedule ahead. It's actually already starting next week when I leave for San Diego for 12 days!

Usually when I am away on business, I excuse myself from any real exercise routine. I go down to the hotel fitness center and get in a little run here and there when I don't have to be at the conference until later in the morning. If I am scheduled to be at the conference bright and early, I don't bother to exercise at all.

My 3.5-mile runs are hardly an hour. From door to door, including a walking cool down, the whole exercise takes close to an hour. The little 2-milers are quick and easy. Not a problem, really, for home or away.

Now, my 4- and 5-mile runs take a little longer, of course. But those have been the long runs, which are run on the weekends. Again, not a problem. I used to run 10 K every Saturday and Sunday last year. Eventually, however, the program will call for 5 and 6 miles throughout the week and upwards of 7, 8, 9, and 10 miles for long runs. Running 5 or 6 miles during the weekdays will be a challenge for me, especially if I'm away for work and living out of a hotel/airport. Some hotels have terribly outdated fitness centers, or they are off in some creepy, dark area of the hotel. My job doesn't provide me with a rental car, so I'm stuck with what's within walking distance. If you know about government per diems, then you know that, depending on the city and how much per diem you get, sometimes these hotels are anything but 4 star or in close proximity to anything very interesting, much less a gym (Although the opposite can also be true, again, depending on a lot of factors. I've stayed anywhere from Hyatts, Hiltons, and Embassy Suites to Days Inns and the like.)

I WILL make the time while I'm at home. That's not an option. But what about running while traveling?

I'm going to visit Brian in Wisconsin this weekend. I'm leaving here on Thursday, which I will count as my rest day. We will be in Madison, WI, on Friday and will be heading up to Wisconsin Dells for the rest of the weekend. I'm praying that the hotels where we're staying have decent fitness centers. According to their Web sites, they do have them. But I've been to hotels that claim to have fitness centers only to find that it's a closet with a broke-down treadmill and a stationary bike (but I've also been to some awesome hotel fitness centers, to be fair). I have to run 3.5 miles on Friday. Brian has to work that day while I hang out and wait for him. I've never been to Madison, WI. If the fitness center sucks, it just might have to be an opportunity to tour Madison on the run and try not to get lost!

At the Dells, I will have to run 5 miles for my long run (unless I try to get it knocked off in Madison). Brian doesn't like to run, and I hate to waste what precious little time we have together running for an hour and focusing on just myself and training. That will be hard. It'll be hard to choose how to spend that very precious hour or so of my visit.

Did I mention that Wisconsin is a delicious state? I mean, I don't think I've eaten anything there that didn't taste out of this world. So that's yet another challenge!

But if I committed myself to running a half-marathon, then I'd better find a way to incorporate my running program into my life, no matter where I am and no matter what comes up that could distract me from training. I need to be versatile and focused and not make excuses to hit the lobby lounge instead of the fitness room or to go out to a decadent dinner at the local hotspot rather than go workout at the end of the day.

I have to MAKE TIME for fitness, if I want it. After all, achievements aren't just handed to us. We have to commit to the work it takes to make those achievements ours.

Tomorrow, I'm going to get up early and run my 3.5 miles at the gym and get some toning in, too, since I didn't get a chance to do it today.

Till Tomorrow,

Deedah

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3 Weeks Down!

They say it takes 3 weeks to develop or break a habit. I can proudly say that I've completed 3 weeks of my half-marathon training! I'm quite proud of myself. I haven't missed a single day and during travel, too! I hope this marks the beginning of one of the best habits I've ever had.

The first 3 weeks, to be honest, weren't that challenging as far as distance was concerned because I've run all those distances before (up to 5 miles). But running so often in a week based on a schedule was definitely a challenge. I'm not going to lie. There were days when I didn't want to run. I wanted to go back to my usual routine of going to an exercise class and only running on the weekends. My knees and lower back feel fatigued, and I'm afraid I haven't done as much strength and toning as I usually do (which used to be everyday) because running and toning take too much time, and it's hard when you have a long list of other daily chores to complete.

I may stay at this week or the next week for a few weeks for a couple of reasons. 1) I have a lot of time until the race, and the program in fact suggests stretching the weeks out. 2) I'm traveling pretty heavily the rest of the summer through Labor Day weekend. Next weekend is Wisconsin Dells. Then, a few days after I get back, I leave for California for 12 (!) days. Then, I have a couple of weeks before I go to Milwaukee for Labor Day weekend. I'm not exactly sure where/if I can get in up to 8 miles at any of these destinations. I will keep up with the schedule though, so at least I'll be able to maintain the level of running frequency I've already achieved.

Tomorrow I have a busy day, so I won't have time to go to the gym to run, but it's not really a running day anyway. If it's not too hot in the morning, I will squeeze in a mile around my neighborhood and do some weights inside. I'm scheduled for 30 minutes of cross training.

After my run this morning, I hung out with these two guys all day:

Deedah

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Might As Well Be Running on the Sun!

Today, I had it in my head to do my long run: 5 miles. I got home from work, took out the pugs (my parents are out of town so I'm dog sitting), had something to eat, and then found my dad's Magic Mic karaoke system! I couldn't help but belt out a few tunes since no one was home! Then, after it cooled down a little outside (not really, it was still 97 degrees at 7 pm), I set out for my run. I was already feeling very tired today (all week actually), and the humidity was oppressive to say the least!

Well, I ran 2 miles, felt like I was going to vomit on the sidewalk, saw my vision getting shaky, and decided to call it a night! Yes, I gave up in the middle of a run. However, I was only scheduled to do the 2 miles or some other type of cross training anyway, so I didn't really flake out on my training program. See how I got myself out of that one? Haha! But really, I just wanted to get the long run out of the way for the weekend. I guess it's on for tomorrow morning then. I will definitely be going to the gym instead of running outside. The overnight lows are supposed to stay in the 80s with high humidity so there won't be any relief from the heat tomorrow morning.

As for my eating, I ate well today, except for the Snickers bar I had in the afternoon. It's Friday, gimme a break! Before that I had already eaten about 850 calories for the day. The Snickers bar was 280 calories. For dinner, I had shirataki noodle spaghetti, which I would say was about 400 calories. Then I ran 2 miles and walked a mile burning a total of 475 calories. That's 1,055 calories net.

Well, I'm off to bed so that I can be well rested for the 5-miler tomorrow morning!

Deedah 
 

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Goal Post!

All my life I’ve been the type of person who wants to set goals, the type of person who has lists and lists of things to accomplish running through my head. I collect ideas, file them away, and, most of the time, either forget about them or dismiss them altogether with some unsupported, weak excuse for why it was just impossible and not really worth pursuing. I’ve wanted to be an FBI agent, a restaurateur, a pastry chef, a doctor, a nurse, a personal trainer, a professional belly dancer; I’ve wanted to ride camels amongst the pyramids and mules at the Grand Canyon, have a Guinness in Ireland, go to every single Disney park in the world, pay my respects at Graceland during Elvis week; I’ve wanted to try eating alligator and deep-fried Twinkies; and much, much more. Honestly, I could have become/done any/all of those things if I had either 1) set my mind to it or 2) not been too afraid to attempt it.

My 20s were a decade of growing. I got to know myself, and I watched myself change. I gained experiences, some of which I should regret (and sometimes I do feel like I regret them, I won't lie). But in my heart I know that those experiences, good and bad, have determined the paths I have chosen in going forward as well as what I've chosen to leave behind.

I promised myself that my 30s would be a decade of doing. I'm going to set goals and not just fantasize about accomplishing them, settling instead for the status quo. So, without further ado, my first goal that I'm going to accomplish is running in the Disney's Princess Half-Marathon, which so happens to take place on my 33rd birthday weekend in February 2011!

Running a half-marathon would be a monumental experience for me. You see, I was the chubby girl who could barely walk, much less run, the dreaded mile. Always coming in last, always getting picked last, always full of shame. It seemed like the only running I could do was be the running fat joke of gym class.

I never dreamed back then that I would be able to run a full mile much less 6 miles or even 13.1 miles or that I would even want to! But what was a weakness and a cause for humiliation 25 years ago will soon be my greatest physical achievement to date (and a great big F-U moment dedicated to all those jerks who mooed at me in gym class all those years ago!)

To train for this half-marathon, I'm going to be following a novice Half-Marathon Training Program, which is the free version available online. I'm doing my best to eat a mostly clean diet of lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains/complex carbs, and protein. Although I've already been running, I want to start from the beginning of this novice training program because I want to get used to running several days a week instead of just for kicks on the weekends.

So, yesterday, Monday July 5, I started with a 3-mile run. Tonight, I just got back from half an hour of light/moderate aerobics and half an hour of toning and stretching.

Today's Eats 

For breakfast, I had 97% Fat-Free Vans Waffles, 1 tbsp of almond butter, a banana, and a tall cup of coffee with Splenda. Perfect, sweet, breakfast!

For lunch, I had a turkey sandwich (two slices of honey multigrain bread, deli turkey, reduced-fat Sorento grated cheese, and Dijon mustard) and a box of fresh, delicious greens and Superfood Salad from my absolute fave Whole Foods salad bar, with 1 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette.

Along with some sweet summer berries for dessert!

For dinner I had a mish-mash of weekend leftovers, including my mom's amazing chicken baked with Campbells 98% Fat-Free Cream of Mushroom and brown rice, a turkey meatball, and some watermelon. I didn't take any pics because they wouldn't look all that appetizing!


Deedah

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