Book Review: Run Like A Mother

Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving and Not Lose Your Job, Family, or Sanity by Dimity McDowell




I loved this book. If you aren't a runner and you want to be, this book will help to motivate you. It's fantabulous. It helped to prioritized life and running. It's a giggle too. I really enjoyed it.



View all my reviews

Major Renter Drama At My House

So, my little Sweet Pea was sicky because of the apartment we just moved into. She would get better when we left for Thanksgiving. Then as soon as we got back she acted up again. Runny nose, horrible cough, cranky, no sleeping. It was horrible. So my break was extended longer than desired. We are getting new carpet in the apartment tomorrow and then it should all be better. I can't wait to get going again.

What are you training for right now? How do you keep it up during the Holiday Season?

Thanksgiving

So, it's that dreaded time of the year. . . Holiday Feast Season. I love it. The cookies, cakes, pies, ham, potatoes, turkey, dressing, caramels. Oh the goodness.

I have been dealing with moving and new apartment problems, a wedding in the family and then Thanksgiving right afterwards. So, I just haven't been able to do p90x or any other kind of exercise. I was feeling really bad about it until I watched Eat, Pray, Love. There is a scene where they are talking about gaining weight. And they just decide that it's better to enjoy the good stuff and buy bigger pants tomorrow. I don't totally agree with freely gaining weight and buying bigger pants later, but I do think that all the wonderful flavors of the season are worth the extra mile run or couple laps in the pool. Don't you?

Break Time

OH, it's break time. There is just not a healthy time to exercise when you stay up all night with a sick baby. It's just so sad to watch such a small body feel so yucky. But I'm on a break. No more exercising because I'm beyond tired. I will start back up on the p90x as soon as the little cheeka is better.

p90x Lean: Week 1

Week 1: Complete. (really I have to do Kenpo today, but I will)

It's been a wonderful week. I got up at 5 am everyday. I got a ton of things finished before my little Sweet Pea even woke up. Wonderful.

My legs are sore and I LOVE IT! I love feeling that I worked hard and have completed so much and am closer to my goal. The goal: to be back to the fitness level I was in before I got pregnant by New Years. It can be done.

p90x Lean: Day 4

Okay so I only got through the moving poses of Yoga X today, but that's more than I thought I would get through. About 4 weeks ago, I really banged up my ankle on a box of baby wipes from Costco and today I could really feel it. Putting my heel down during all the warrior moves was a killer. Really it was my ankle that kept me from going on today. I just don't want to injure it any more than it already is. Even though it hurt a whole lot during the workout, my ankle felt wonderful after. I didn't expect that. I thought I would hobble on it all day, but it felt all stretched out and free. Better.

Oh, when doing p90x you're supposed to take a before picture to compare to the after. I was feeling much better about myself until I saw the picture. To keep myself accountable to someone and make sure I actually finish the program this time, I will give you a peek.


My Post-Pregnancy body. Feeling quite Fat at the moment. I can't even pull down my tank top over my tire. (really I just don't want to stretch it out; I want to be able to wear it after the tire it gone.)

It's weird to see my butt and thighs smaller than my stomach. For my entire life, it's always been the other way around.

p90x lean: Day 2

OH how I forgot that there was so much pain involved with doing p90x. I can barely move, let alone pick up my Sweet Pea OR get down on the floor and play. Even shifting in my chair is cruel to my glutes. OUCH!

Skinny Jeans

I fit into my pre-preggo jeans today. I didn't even have to suck in to get them done up. It was a wonderful feeling. I makes me want to get out and continue my exercising.

Rewards are SOO worth the effort!!!

Sinfulness

There is just not much better than hash browns cooked in bacon grease. YUM!!

I should be worried about this because we are nearing the end of our Biggest Loser Family Challenge, but it is SOOO worth it.

Wasatch Woman 5K 2010

This race took place at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. There was a whole lot of disorganization. It was kind of disappointing. They didn't have the route marked very well, so some people ran farther than they were supposed to. They started AND finished at the same location. (I didn't like this) They cut off our chips immediately after we crossed the finish line followed directly by handing us goody-bags and water. This caused a backup of people trying to cross the finish line in a timely manner. Those things should NEVER be DIRECTLY after the finish line, AND there should have been a direct path farther away to tables with the stuff AND food. I NEVER made it to the food because there were too many people in a space that hadn't had the setup planned very well. It was quite frustrating.

HOWEVER,

I did have a lot of fun. I was met by my Mom and some friends at the race. It was chilly that morning.

Before the race:

The many women there lined up waiting to start:
(we all had to wait for like 25 minutes at the start because some of the 10K runners had run a different route and they had to find them. It wasn't marked very well)

There I am, waiting for the beginning:

Off we go:

We all went at different paces. Remember how I told you that my knees hurt sometimes when walking? Well, they hurt pretty early in the race, so after like 1/2 a mile, I ran.

I ran the whole time. I had NO idea that the gardens were full of hills. Running up and down and then up and down again was really tiring when I haven't been running that much. It was a good thing that I had the runaway strap on or I would have lost my little Sweet Pea. There were a couple of hills where she was definitely moving faster than I was. (I wouldn't recommend running this race with a stroller, not because of the hills, but because the walk ways through the garden are narrow and you have to maneuver around people.)

We did it! Our first race together. We came in 84th/189 in my age group. I ran it in 45:36. That's a 12:14 minute mile. I am so glad I ran. It felt wonderful.
On to the next race.

Anyone know of a really fun Turkey Trot to do?

Running Stroller

I'm borrowing a jogging stroller for the race (thank you Kristen). So, today I put Sweet Pea in the stroller to make sure she was comfortable and used to the stroller for tomorrow. I put more air in the tires, strapped our weather cover over the top, tucked Sweet Pea in and headed off for our exercise walk.

Sweet Pea really liked it. She fell right to sleep. I LOVE it! I need a jogging stroller soooo badly. The stroller just ran itself. Yes I said ran, because it kept me moving VERY quickly. I could have run without any trouble. It was a beautifully easy moving morning. I can't wait for tomorrow.

Wasatch Woman Love Your Body Goal

There are 4.5 days until the race. I'm so excited. I have one goal for this race. It's not to come in first, or improve my previous 5k time, but to finish in under 1 hour. I'm currently walking a 5k in right around 45 minutes; so, this means that I have roughly 15 minutes to finish the last half mile. I can do this. I can do it.

I hope that all of you walking the race with me are ready to boogy along. Can't wait until Saturday.

A Chill in the Air

It was a beautiful morning. Early, but beautiful. My little Sweet Pea decided to get up at 6 am, which means that breakfast was early, nap time is early and walk time is early. We headed out before 8. I bundled her up in a touque, warm jacket, gloves, socks and we headed out for our morning adventure. What I forgot was a coat for me. So, after a mile we headed back to get me a touque and jacket.

After I was all bundled up, we headed back out. Today I decided to carry Sweet Pea because I thought that she would be warmer. (not to mention I would be warmer) She loves to be carried in her Baby Bjorn. She gets so excited when I put it on. She tries to climb up my legs before I can pick her up. I'm so glad she likes to go for walks. When I carry her, she talks the whole time. It's like she feels like I'm there to listen to her. Completely cute.

And as a bonus, I get an extra workout because I'm carrying her. Ya! But now I'm really tired. Maybe I should take a nap too. 6am is just WAY too early.

Dear Body,

Can we come to a truce? I have been trying to take care of you, and get you back into tip top shape and THIS is how you thank me? This is the second time. You got sick AGAIN. Really?! I know this time it doesn't feel quite as bad as last, but still. Can you just tell me you need a day to lounge around without getting sick? It would be nice. I promise to not overwork you and give you a day off if you promise not to get sick again for a while. What do you think? Yes?

Yours Truly,
Phannie

Exercising After Baby

I think it's a struggle for every woman who has just had a baby to get out and exercise. It was for me. We get pregnant, eat the carbs our body is craving, stop exercising because if we get up we're going to throw up, and then we have the baby. And then we masterfully go back to our healthy eating habits and exercise regime.

Raaight! Magically we all shave off the nasty habits we have formed. No. We are now still craving the carbs, mostly because we love them and they taste good, NOT because our body needs the little extra. And we are not exercising because we are: A) lazy, 4) tired because we aren't getting enough sleep, F) don't want to show our fat ass in public (who wants to see that, no-one), and 10) because we just don't want to.

So, getting out to exercise can be like making a kid eat their veggies or go to bed. Not pretty. But it can be done.

I'm on month 8. I still have 30 pounds to lose of my 60. (Don't congratulate me yet for losing 30. I lost them in the first 10 minutes after delivery) There are still days I get up and don't want to leave the house. I can't seem to find a buddy to exercise with. (Maybe someday) But I get out anyway.

I go walking every day. If I'm feeling ambitious, I walk around the neighborhood. If I'm not, then I walk to the track and walk around the track. That way I know exactly how far I have gone and I feel like I've accomplished something. This helps me get out the next day.

Then there are the days I DO NOT want to go out. But I want to exercise. I need a skinnier me back. So, I pull out all of my Sweet Peas toys, scatter them about the room, put in one of my trusty workout videos and off I go. Sweet Pea plays most of the time I am exercising. She tries to tackle me when I'm doing Yoga or Abs. It's pretty cute. When I get to the push-ups, she crawls under me and waits for me to come down and kiss her. Giggling and giggling. Adorable.

There are terrible breakdown moments. Where my Sweet Pea just can't handle letting me exercise. At that point, I'm done. It doesn't matter that I haven't reached my target heart rate or burned off enough Calories. She needs me and I'll make it up tomorrow or the next day. It's just fine.

It took me a while, but I finally found a way to feel like I got in a work out. And it feels great. How did you do it?

Smooth Running

As you know, I have been unable to up my exercise regimen to the level that I want it to be because I'm still pumping and don't want to deplete my milk supply. However, this week I have discovered that walking at the intense speed at which I've been walking (maybe it's my mechanics) hurts my knees. It pains like it did when I was a catcher. (Not quite as intense, but in the same area)

So, I started to run. Just to see if the pain subsided or continued. It left! I was surprised. My body wants to run just as bad as I do. I'm going to need to invest in a jogging stroller now. It's time.

But don't worry. Everyone who is doing the Wasatch Woman Love Your Body Race with me, I am still just walking. No going back on my word here. We will be boogying, but still walking.

The Thrill and Cheers Without the Price

Saturdays are always great days. I get to have help with my Sweet Pea, usually we get more things done around the house, and I get a buddy on my speedy walks. (although he complains about the speed-I just don't want to mosey)

Anyway. Yesterday, we walked over to the walkway near the High School and started to cruise around. There were plenty of people there, but it didn't look abnormal because it's a Saturday. People come to the park. However, people started to cheer us on while we passed them on the trail. Congratulating us on how well we were doing. It was great. I couldn't figure out what was going on. I saw some Cross Country runners and just thought that they were doing a workout and that the people on the sidelines had just finished and were cheering for them, not us.

But I was wrong. They thought that we were in a race. We had walked into the 5k race that was running in the neighborhood. They figured out that we weren't in the race when we came around the track a second time, but the first time cheers were wonderful. I really enjoyed it.

You should try it sometime. Bombard a race. It's worth the cheering sections.

Cardio X CAN be done. Woot! Woot!

It's so wonderful. I was able to complete the whole Cardio X without stopping. This was very exciting. Especially since my Sweet Pea was crawling around the living room the whole time. While doing the Yoga and Stretching portions she would climb up on me. I really like it when she climbs up on me, but while exercising it is most inconvenient; however, it is very cute.

I am going to attempt to do it again today. My attempt to add more points into my days. I don't know about you, but while doing p90x I find myself wishing it was worth more points than it is. Oh well, it's better to know that I can accomplish it than to get many points for it. Right?

Low Calorie Pasta Salad

I completely LOVE The Volumetrics Eating Plan, by Barbara Rolls, Ph. D. I use these recipes all the time. And I get to eat a whole bunch of food. I don't have to cut my portions. With most of the recipes I find myself not being able to eat as much as I'm allowed to.

Anyway, here is the Pasta Salad recipe on page 146:


4 C. ditalini, cooked and drained
2 C. peeled, shredded carrots
2 C. cored, diced tomatoes
2 C. frozen baby peas, cooked and drained
8 Tbsp. 1/4-inch thick diced ham (about 4 oz)
1 C. shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Dressing: 1/2 Cup of this dressing for the Pasta Salad

3 Tbsp white-wine vinegar
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of freshly ground pepper

(I used red-wine vinegar because I didn't have white-wine vinegar. It still tasted great)

Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well, evenly distributing the dressing. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Makes: 4 servings of 3 Cups each

Calories: 400
Energy Density: .80
Carbohydrates: 52 g.
Fat: 11 g.
Protein: 23 g.
Fiber: 9 g.

Sorry, no picture. I forgot to take one.

Favorite Sin

One of the ways to earn points for the 500 is to give up my favorite sin for 7 days. A whole week. It's pretty hard. The one that I LOVE is:

CHEESE

It's yellow,

Sweet AND Salty,

runny,

hard,

delectable goodness.

I have had to give it up for the last 6 weeks and it doesn't get any easier over time. I thought it would, but it seems to be getting worse. All I want is Mac 'n Cheese, a grilled cheese sandwich, Nachos,

chili cheese fries; well, you get the idea.

It's a tough one. But I guess it will be worth the 5 points. Hopefully. Some days I just want to hide in the corner behind the couch and eat a whole bowl of cheese curds. YUM!!


(picture from www.thedailygreen.com and www.kats9lives.com)

My First Morning of the 500

I'm just going to call it the 500 and you are just going to know what I'm talking about. Deal? good.

This morning I got up fed my Sweet Pea and myself (I'm quite proud of this one, I don't usually make time to eat) and set off on our little walk this morning. This is my real first day of keeping track of points. Too bad it's in the middle of the tracking week.

I'm getting in my water.

I exercised.

I did my push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and calf raises.

Does jumping with Sweet Pea on my lap count as weight lifting? I think it should.

How are you doing on your points/goals?

It Begins

The 500 challenge. Technically it began this last Wednesday, but when I have a 102 degree fever, I just don't feel like exercising or making healthy choices. (or any choices at all) Anyway, it's here. And I'm ready.

64 oz of water every day= a breeze (I mean, I already love to drink water AND I have to because of feeding baby)

walking miles=Sweet Pea loves taking walks; we go every day AND we're training for our 6K in October

Eating healthier= a little more difficult because I crave the grease and salt of so many wonderful foods.

Stretching= this one I NEED, but I really struggle with remembering when my little one is crying (screaming) for me

There are a TON of ways to get points this challenge and I'm excited. I hope that I can do it.

Here I go!!!

Biggest Loser Family

My Family is doing Biggest Loser. We have until December 17th, right before we all participate in our Christmas Festivities. I'm really excited. I don't know if everyone is taking this seriously, but I sure am. I want the $100 at the end to go get a spa treatment OR a new outfit for my new body OR more running gear. I don't know, but I'm going to WIN!!

This contest is mine.

I'm starting at:

weight: 196 pounds.

pant/dress size: 16

AND flabby all over.

By Christmas this will be NO MORE!!

Wasatch Woman Love Your Body 5K (aka 6K)

I'm doing this fun 6K in October. I'm stoked. I'm walking because I'm breastfeeding. So sad, I know, but it's okay. At least I'm getting back into the races. Yeah.

You should all join me. It's on October 9th and the run/walk is through the gardens at Thanksgiving Point. It's $20 now and goes up soon. (I don't really remember when, but soon) It's WOMEN ONLY. How fun is that? A way to show your daughters, sons, husbands just how important your body is to you. And that you LOVE it no matter what.

I'm so excited. It's gonna be great!!

Breathing in the Sweetness

Oh, it was beautiful this morning on my walk. A little breezy so I had to makeshift a cover for my Sweet Pea's stroller, but it worked out well I think. Anyway, as I was enjoying my morning exercise I all of a sudden noticed one of my most cherished fragrances. The smell of a wood burning stove in the cool fall air.

I was unaware it was Fall already, but the breeze gently let me in on the secret. As much as I'm sad to see Summer go, I know she'll be back next year. I really do love all the seasons. The Fall stretch into Winter is my favorite. It comes with wonderful smells, plenty of Holidays, and delicious food. Oh the goodness of the end of the year.

WONDERFUL!!

Almost There

Walking has become my life. As I walk I yearn to RUN. I can't wait until I can again. I'm so excited that I have almost reached 120 Miles this summer. I wasn't sure I could do it, but I'm only 7 miles away. It's so great to accomplish something physical again.

Anyone have some tips to help keep up your milk production while exercising?

Oh So Much Summer

It's been so long. I have been really busy with a new little one and had smooshed all my blogs together without even thinking about it. But I'm back. Posting Here about my fitness.

So, you can imagine, I'm almost 7 months post-baby and still flabby. Obviously wanting to get back to my extreme exercising self is the goal, but a very distant goal. Beginning my trek to skinny-dom started out pretty rocky. I didn't get out much. Ate like I was pregnant still. (not that I ate for two, I just didn't make the wisest choices.) And complained about being fat.

NOW. . .

I am walking everyday. (I started to run, but my breast milk lessened. So, I stopped) I joined the




And I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I have lost a couple of inches. I've got to step it up to meet my goal for December. To lose the extra 30 pounds I'm holding onto. I'm gonna do it.

I enjoyed the 120 mile challenge so much that this fall





And I'm stoked!!! If you want to participate in the 500 challenge go to nutsinanutshell.blogspot.com and email Cat. She would love it. Don't be afraid 500 is NOT miles this time. It's points. And you earn points in a million different ways. It will be so fun. I hope you join in.