Reality Staring Me In The Face

Lets talk about Stress.  Stress is sometimes looked at as a burden to an individual/family and sometimes, I've noticed, that stress is idolized as a state of living that is to be desired.  Although I think the second kind of stress is a scary state for our culture to admire, I would like to talk about the first kind of stress.

The first kind of stress effects me more in my adult life than I ever remember it effecting me when I was a kid.  And we all cope with stress differently.  Some express emotions at extreme levels, some drink alcohol, some obsess about activities or work, and some do what I do.  Eat.

I can't even explain it.  I can be full and know I'm not hungry and might even not want to eat, but I just keep going.  It's like my body thinks food is a medicine that I need right then, and I need as much as I can get.  This past year was very stressful for me for many reasons.  One of those reasons was a foot injury.  And because I wasn't really paying attention or addressing my stresses well, I ate.  And I ate. And I ate.

Between my injury and my inability to exercise (this is usually my 1st line of defense to my yearning to eat) I managed to gain 45 lbs in the last 12 months.  And it's rough.  It's hard to watch 3 years of hard work disappear behind a mask that jiggles.

In the first half of the year, I was super excited to begin my workouts again.  I spent months doing no strenuous activity and was excited to get back to doing what I love.  But I forgot how slow one has to go after an injury.  It's been a while since I had a significant injury and my body is definitely older now.  (I never thought I would say that)  It's true.  Gaining my strength and abilities back seems to be at a snails pace, and thus extremely frustrating.

I didn't really account for this 6 months ago when I registered for the Utah Valley Half Marathon.  So, the race is here.  And I'm not ready to run it.  I was thinking that I would try to find someone else to take my place when I was reminded by my sister-in-law that people walk these races.  Now, I usually run.  I tend to do things quickly.  But by body is screaming at me and I need to slow down; in more ways than just exercise.  I have to respect where I am.  Right here.  Right now.  And enjoy it.

Here's to walking my first race.

My Shred Day 27

Friday

It was so nice to have a cooler day.  It gives me a chance to go out later and spend longer on my runs. I went 3.84 miles.  (Jen, you did 3.16 miles)  Part of this was walking.  My little Sweet Pea wanted to "run" too.  But no matter what, I was still moving.  Such a great day

Shred Days 22 & 23 & 24

Friday was a little bit of a lazy day for me.  I didn't want to get up early, so I didn't.  I get myself out to go run.  However, the running turned mostly into walking.  But that's okay.  We all need a lighter day and mine was Friday.

Walked 1.5 miles
Run .5 miles

MONDAY

I got up and did the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout.  Warm up, 20 minute workout, then Cool Down.  It felt so good.  Then a couple of hours later, I went out running.  We ran 2.46 miles.  Also felt great.  I LOVE doing multiple workouts in a day.

TUESDAY

This morning I did this:

30 jumping jacks
20 lunges (each leg)
10 squats
10 plie squats
20 side lunges (each side)
20 glute kickbacks (each leg)
15 bridges
10 side leg circles forward (each leg)
10 side leg circles backwards (each leg)
20 glute kickbacks (each leg)
15 squats
10 plie squats
20 jumping jacks

Then I did it all AGAIN.

I was supposed to do it 3x through, but my BUTT HURT.  So I'll attempt a third time through later.

My Shred Day #20: Fall is coming

I love the heat, but the cooler day today has been fantastic.  School has started and I'm ready for the holiday seasons to begin. The cooler weather meant that my kids wouldn't be scorching on a run.  So I took the kids for a run.  It was great.

I ran 3 miles and walked 1.

Then I did:

25 crunches
25 heels to the heavens
25 crunches
10 sit ups
15 crunches
25 lateral leg lifts (R and L leg)
25 inner thigh lifts (R and L legs)
25 crunches
25 hip rock n raise

It was a good day.  How was yours?

Home Stretch

There is just so much pain that comes with the second baby. WOW. I would have never guessed. But it will all soon be over. I can't believe I'm on the home stretch. And by "home stretch" I mean last 2 weeks. Then I have have to be pregnant again. I will have 2 fantastic children and we will get to play and play. I'm so excited.

For now, my mileage is low and getting lower. I don't think that 120 miles in the next couple of weeks will be something I can accomplish. And I'm okay with that. My inability to really get out and move has truly taken over. It's okay. There will be plenty of times later to get some grueling miles in.

120 Mile Challenge Update

I am such a slacker. I don't report my miles very well this year. OR even keep track of them well. I guess that means that I lose them if I don't keep track. I know I have gone out with my Hubby and Sweet Pea a handful of times that I didn't record my miles for. Oh well.

I have been out walking a bit. This last weekend a ton. We went out to the Zoo, This is The Place, and Discovery Gateway. We walked a ton. I know that I am supposed to count my "I'm in my exercise clothes" times, but these were some really hard walks for me. I really worked up a sweat. Got my heart rate going. So, I'm counting it. This pregnant lady can use all the exercise I can get. At any time of the day.

That brings my total miles up to: 12.57 Miles. I know, I know. I'm WAY behind. But still moving. And that is saying something.

It is really getting hard to move. My first pregnancy never gave me pains like this one does. There are days that I can barely get off the couch. So, I'm doing well. Only 5 more weeks of the pre-baby pain. Then I'll just have a little bit of post-baby pain and it will be all over. There is an end. Yeah.

Back In The Habit

I did it. I got up and exercised today. I got my heart pumping a little and my arms and legs moving. It felt great. And I feel great still. It didn't give me a headache or make me extremely tired. I guess the last time I tried some of the things I did today I was just on the verge of sickness and tired anyway. Now I'm better and it feels great.

I'm 30 weeks from the end of my exercise restrictions. Well, more than that with recovery from my c-section, BUT still. I am excited. It's going to be a different season when I'm through with this pregnancy than last time. Going into Fall and Winter will be hard. I need to get some new ideas for exercises I can do with 2 kids around. But that's later.

Right now, I'm walking. I've entered the 120 mile challenge again this year.



I did this because I need a little bit more motivation to get out of the house. AND exercise. It's just too easy to stay home. I used the enormous amounts of rain that we have been having as an excuse, but just realized that even if it's sunny I just have no motivation. Cat's 120 Mile Challenge gives me someone to report to every week. I am pretty competitive and I don't like to come in last. So, this will be good I think.

Last week, I did just a little over 2 miles. (slow start, I know.) And this week I have already gotten that. I am going to at least double my miles from last week. That's the goal.

Wish me luck.

Spring vs. Winter

I have been out walking a couple of times since my last post. It's hard to get out when the weather just will not decide if it's going to move on to Spring or stay Winter for a while longer. (I thought that Phil didn't see his shadow this year. Isn't Spring supposed to come early?)

Anyway, we have had a few blistering wintery days and I just haven't had the heart to bundle up my little one to brave the snow. But these last couple of days have been brighter and I'm thinking my walking days are back. Maybe we'll go tonight with my Hubby when he gets home from work. I love that it's light outside longer.

Pregnancy Racing

I made it before the storm hit. I went out for my first pregnancy training walk. I am going to do a 5k this spring/summer. I don't know which one yet, but I will find the perfect one. And I am going to get my walking back in gear to do it. I have wanted to run a race while pregnant ever since I got passed by two pregnant women in my first race I ever ran in. AND we were going up hill. That day I decided that I wanted to be that crazy prego lady. Since this is my last chance to do so, I figured I better stop being so lazy.

I need a walking buddy to race with. Even if we can't train together, we can keep each other accountable for our miles before the race and then meet up at the race. Any takers?

Breast Feeding to the Rescue!

Pregnancy doesn't feel official until you visit the Doctor for the first time. It feels as if I could get there and she would tell me that I'm not really pregnant and that it's all been a dream. The first time I get on the scale and they take my blood pressure always make me a little nervous. Yesterday I thought that I was going to be 225 lbs., the weight I was right before I delivered last time. But I wasn't. I also thought my blood pressure was going to be threw the roof. It wasn't. I hadn't been eating very well or exercising and I was very nervous, but my blood pressure was low and my weight was 191. Happy day.

I don't believe that breast feeding helped me lose any weight, but I DO believe it helped me keep some off in the last few months. Yeah for breast feeding. I'll just have to do it for a while longer to help me keep some weight off. Just until it gets warmer and I can get outside and walk.

I want to do a race this pregnancy. It's one of my things on my bucket list. I think I will just be walking, but I am going to do it. I just need to pick one to enter and then I have a goal to shoot for.

Suggestions?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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!!

I got out

I did it. I got out of the house. Of course, it was for a vacation that was already paid for and I couldn't pass up going to the West Coast Beaches. (I've never been before)


Anyway, I didn't realize that walking on the sand after sitting on my butt for four weeks would be so hard. My calves are soooo tight. In ways I've never felt them tight before. But it was all so worth it. I got out. Got a little bit of exercise through all the walking that we did. It felt so great.

pregnant exercises

I'm feeling a little better this week. I am not going to start running yet. I will start walking again. I'll see how that goes. I need exercise! I am going through withdrawals.

Anyone else been pregnant that NEEDED exercise as much as I do? What things did you do? Were you sick? Did it help keep the nausea down? I need ideas.