Tuesday, March 15, 2011

So What's Next


So, what's next on the agenda for this year?

My first goal (Princess Half-Marathon) has been successfully accomplished!

It just goes to show that keeping your eyes on the prize really does work in terms of accomplishing something you set out to do (if only that it's as easy when it comes to losing this pesky chub!). I've always had trouble making a real committment to things I can easily get out of, like vowing to clean more, to eat less, to stop spending money, to stop wasting food, etc. These are all resolutions and goals that, in the past, I've found a way to get out of accomplishing, a way of "reasoning" it out to death or using the umbrella excuse "I'm too busy to think about that right now."

I think that setting goals is very healthy, mentally and physically, even if they are just small goals. So I'm going to jot down some things, both big and small, I'd like to get done in the near future.

1. Get back to working out AND LIKING IT. That's the key: and liking it. Lately, working out has been like pulling teeth. And I've felt the effects of the lack of regular exercise physically and mentally. I'm more anxious, more down and out, and more tense and negative these days. But when you're feeling blue, you don't want to work out, so it's that vicious cycle that could go on and on until I firmly decide to break it.

2. Stop acting like I'm too old for it to matter. I think a lot of my lack of motivation lies in some subconsious belief that I'm 33 and I'm too old to enjoy some vanity, that I shouldn't be concerned with being pretty anymore because the time for wanting to be hot has passed. Not so! Why do I matter less to myself now than I did 10 years ago?

3. Beat my 5K time from last year's Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure. This is a doable concrete goal. Last year, I finished the 5K at about 34 minutes. That's my average 5K speed for road races. I want to finish in 30 minutes.

4. Pay off my little credit card debts. I have two credit cards with about $500 each on them and a Bill Me Later account that I use for travel that has about $500 on it. I want to pay these off by the summer. This would be more doable if I didn't owe a couple Ks for taxes :(

Those are all little things that I would like to do. Now for the big things that will take a little more work.

1. Get a good job I like that pays well. I want to minimize the freelancing and just get one good job.

2. Go to Rome, Italy (or any where in Europe). I travel a lot, but domestic travel is getting old. I need to see someplace that isn't just another cookie cutter city or suburb.

3. See a Broadway show. I used to go to NYC all the time. But lately no one wants to go anymore :( And Brian doesn't live here and the logistics to plan out a trip like that would be hard. There a lots of places I want to go with him, but the situation doesn't allow for that kind of thing. I don't really want to go into it right now on this blog.

4. Appreciate the life I have and focus on the things I can do instead of the things I can't, or focus on what I have versus what I don't. This is the hardest goal.
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Saturday, March 12, 2011

On My Way Back


I've been working on getting back to using weights and resistance and boy was I sore this week!

But I feel good knowing that the pain means I'm getting back into shape, hopefully in time for the warm weather. I can't wait to shop for cute summer clothes!

My ultimate goal is to do three cardioresistance workouts a week and one running day and just do some random things in the days in between, like walking outside and enjoying the spring. I want to keep up my running because I've signed up to do the Susan G. Koman Race for the Cure 5K in June. I did it last year and it was really fun and for a really great cause that I believe in wholeheartedly. And I really want to do the Disney Wine and Dine Half-Marathon in October. Disney races are a blast! In my opinion, they are the perfect mix of athleticism and fun. No one's really hardcore serious, but everyone still gives it their all, so it's not as intimidating as other races. I like that. I'm not hardcore. The more fun the better! And I love seeing all the characters along the way!

Today I did cardioresistance class. I admit, I have a long way to go to get back the strength I lost. But I can feel it coming back!

As for eating, I haven't got much of an appetite. The past few days, I've had sort of an aversion to food. Do you ever feel like that? I do sometimes. Sometimes I can't stomach anything and everything seems so gross, even the things I usually enjoy. I would go for days not wanting to eat anything solid and only wanting easily digestible things, like mashed potatoes or soups. So I'm just going with it. I'm eating what I can for sustenance when/if I feel hungry. The Medifast foods are helping because they are small portions go down easily :) I haven't weighed myself yet because first I was waiting (and waiting) for Aunt Flo. I believe her flight was delayed because of all the long-distance running the last couple of weeks, LOL. Then she arrived finally, making me all bloated. But I do feel like I've lost a couple of pounds. I'm going to weigh myself after she leaves in a few days.



Deedah
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Support


Second post of the day

Yes, Brian is tired of hearing about the race and the fact that I can't get the Coast-to-Coast medal. Yes, he had to endure 9 LONG months of me complaining about training and aches and pains and gaining weight.

BUT he went to Florida, endured my last-minute nerves, took me out for a filet mignon dinner for my birthday, and then he got up at 2 am the next morning and hung out with my parents for HOURS in the middle of the night while I ran. And that's not all. We didn't sleep after the race. We went to church and then went out to dinner and karoake for my mom's birthday celebration that night, not getting home until after midnight. For nearly 24 hours, he held my hand and supported me without a single complaint.

For that I am more grateful that I can even express. Thank you, Gagoo, for everything. I really couldn't have AND wouldn't have done this without you. Seeing you at mile 13 cheering me on will be one of my most cherished memories that I will keep in my heart until the day I die.

I love you
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Coast to Coast for 2012


Brian, since you said you're tired of hearing about this, you should probably stop reading now. But the blogosphere and those who are interested in such matters might still be :-)

Yeah, so I'm not going to go for the Disney Coast-to-Coast medal this year. I'm truly bummed. I was riding the high of finishing the Princess Half-Marathon and so psyched to head out to Anaheim and get that Coast to Coast. But then the logistics got in the way. It's Labor Day weekend. It's a cross-country flight. Gas prices, as well as airline fares, are climbing. Enough said.

The cheapest it would cost me to get the medal is at least $700. That would mean I would have to forgo a hotel room and crash on my brother's awful, awful "couch" in his tiny, ash-tray-smelling studio apartment in Anaheim. That couch always gives me a back ache. Not a good thing if you're going to run 13.1 miles at the crack of dawn. It's just not doable. I have a lot of other things I need that money for in the upcoming months, like other trips and vacations (haha!). But seriously, I need to pay taxes and a go on a few trips and can't afford to blow that much money on one thing. Now if I win the Mega Millions tomorrow. I'm definately going!

If I had more self-confidence I would have scrimped and saved for this the past 9 months. But I highly doubted myself and that I would finish the Princess. So I didn't prepare for the possibility that I could go to Disneyland.

That's the lesson, kids. Always believe YOU CAN until you actually CAN'T. Preemptive strikes against your own potential makes for a lame story. End topic.

But I am gung ho about getting into spring and summer shape. I purged my closest this weekend and saw all my cute summer clothes just waiting to be worn! And I want to be in as good a shape or better than I was last summer before I even attempt to wear them again. The Medifast thing is going fine. It's just the springboard I needed to get back to the eating clean/exercising mindset.

Today I'm going to go to the gym and go for my first post-race run. My knees were not all that great the past week or so, so I'm hoping they are ready tonight!
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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Fitter and Fatter


The past 9 months I was really focused on my first half-marathon, and in fact I started this blog to track my training, although that didn't happen. But now that that goal has been met (YAY!), it's time to move on to the next goal.

Getting back my muscle tone and losing my fat gut.

I've never heard of anyone gaining weight from training for a run before. It actually seems absurd to me. But I managed to do it. I got fitter and fatter?? Seriously, my lung capacity and cardio fitness from all the running I've been doing has never been better, and I'm quite proud of that accomplishment. The problem is that running also makes me ravenous, and no matter how many hundreds of calories I burned running, I would follow it up with double in food afterward, especially after the long distance runs. I craved carbs all the time! and now I'm paying for it.

Yes, I am fitter and fatter. Sigh.

With spring and summer coming up, I need to get this pudge off so I can run around in tank tops and shorts without feeling like a pudgeball. A Facebook friend recently started Medifast and has lost 20 lb in a month. I don't expect those results (although I would LOVE it), but I do want a jump start so I signed up for 2 weeks worth of Medifast to kick start my weightloss. 

I think that the 2 weeks getting back into disciplined eating and getting rid of some water weight will be a good start and motivate me to start eating clean again. 

The package is supposed to arrive today and I plan on starting it on Saturday. Here we go!
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Post-Race Blues


I never thought I'd say that feel surprisingly sad that I'm done training for the Princess Half-Marathon. It got to the point where I was REALLY hating training. I dreaded running on that stupid treadmill and forsaking all other exercise in favor or running (leading to a 10-lb weight gain, if you can believe it).

I couldn't wait for the race to be over.

And then, all of a sudden, it was. Over.

I finished at a decent 2:43 (on 2 hours of sleep!). I didn't walk at all except for when I walked by the hydration stations because I couldn't figure out how to run and drink at the same time without it splashing all over my face and shirt! And I stopped briefly when I texted my family at mile 11 to let them know to head over to the finish line. Sure, it could have been better had I not stopped for the porto-potty, or texted, or if I could guzzle down the Powerade without slowing my pace significantly. But I guess that's something to work on for next time. Listen to me talking about "next time" when I swore to myself and everyone around me that I would retire from running after this half-marathon! But there's something addicting about the rush of crossing the start line and then, eventually, the finish line.

After the race I was feeling pretty exhausted from lack of sleep and the strain of running 13.1 miles. I don't think I've ever been that wiped out! I'm actually embarrassed of my picture from the race. I look frightening! With dark circles under my eyes, my t-shirt (which was too loose for a running race) all bunched up. I don't even want to order the professional pics!

Things I learned from this race:

1. Wear a tighter shirt. It twists as you run and I found myself tugging at it a lot.
2. Learn to run and drink from a paper cup.
3. Pee twice before the race
4. Wear at least SOME makeup (especially for the Princess Half) because there will be photographers and you don't want to look like you're about to drop dead.
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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Princess Half-Marathon: Done!


Well, I'm sure you never expected to hear from me again! I've been really busy withy work and life.

BUT this morning was the Princess Half-Marathon---and I finished! My knees are killing me right now, but I did it. I ran the whole thing (except when I had to use the nast porto potty) and got my medal. I'm really looking forward to getting back to my usual workout routine because I've really neglected toning and weights this entire time I've been training for the half. So unfortunately, I've gotten way too flabby for my tastes.

Deedah
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