Music Monday…My First

This is my very first Music Monday!

I wanted to do a Meatless Monday BUT today ended up being a very meatFUL Monday…I blame Memorial Day! Yeah, that’s it because it was Memorial Day! =)

So here for your listening enjoyment, Blackeyed Peas, Rock You Body!!!!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava’s Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Metamorphosis Beginning!

Today, as I was walking to the mailbox, (sore: legs throbbing, butt aching) I was thinking the pain after a good workout is like feeling your self morphing into a much better self.  I chuckled to myself, as I quite often do, and thought gee I don’t mind the pain as much when you think of it like that.

You see Wednesday I had a great workout. So great that I still feel it today!  Then a friend had called me Wednesday night to see if I wanted to meet yesterday morning and do some cardio, because our trainers are out-of-town today.  So I said sure!  GOOD THING she called because, when that alarm went off, moving any muscle in my body was the LAST thing I wanted to do! But nonetheless – she called – I said yes – and so I began the chore of removing my stiff, achy, sore body from my comfy bed.  As painful as it was, I was truly happy that I had done so and thanked her profusely for calling the night before.  Funny thing – she admitted she would not have come either had she not called! I was so thankful at that moment that she knew herself well enough to call me.   So Thursday morning I proceeded to walk a mile on the treadmill (remember, I am training for a half-marathon in October) and while I did not beat my best time (of 16:34) I did stay under 17 (at 16:43).  But wait, that’s not all!  That evening I went to walk a mile with my husband at an outdoor park, and while I didn’t get close to beating my treadmill time I did beat my park time and came in at 17:00.  That was even with jogging a very little.

Since I began my journey metamorphosis almost 3 months ago, I went from being happy with an 18:55 mile, to getting a 17:00 mile in the same park, and accomplishing a 16:34 mile on a treadmill.  I have also went from not being able to do a push-up, assisted or regular, to doing 26 assisted (yes, those are the girl-y kind) in one minute, and from 57 sit ups in a minute to 73!!! I am very happy with my accomplishments thus far, and I am really excited to see how fast my mile is when I start the half-marathon in October!

Stay tuned…more weirdness to follow!

Hello world!

I am so excited! I’ve actually started a blog.  Now I have a place to rant and rave of my very own.  I have started training for a half marathon in October, and I’m also trying to lose a large amount of weight, sooo I will be trying to post regularly with progress updates, amusing stories, and mindless rants.

Enjoy!

Day 1

Today was the day…

Day 1 of my training program, Couch to 5k.  I dressed in my new outfit, socks, shoes, shorts and shirt.  I loaded the mini cooler with ice and waters, packed a towel, a stopwatch, my sunglasses, the schedule and my ipod (loaded with high tempo songs).  I was ready to go!!!  I did all my stretching and, with both excitement and anxiety rising in me, I left for the park. 

As I pulled in I thought, what the heck am I so nervous about?  I am doing this for ME aren’t I?? 

I parked at the beginning of the trail, clipped on my ipod, prepped my stop watch and grabbed a bottle of water.  After a “brisk 5 minute warm up walk” I took off jogging…60 seconds seeming like 60 minutes…then a 90 second walk that flew by.  As the songs on my ipod played they really kept me motivated.  On my 2nd or 3rd jog Kanye West’s Stronger started, just at the right time – I needed to hear that!  As I circled the park and kept passing a mother son duo I felt my calves burning, burning bad.  Just how bad is too bad I kept wondering.  I wanted to quit, cut through the middle walkway and just leave.  I was tempted for a second, then it dawned on me – once again, it’s only me I’d be hurting!  So I kept going but 15 minutes into the jog/walk combo I really felt I could not jog again without passing out.  So I compromised, I walked the rest of the time…but I completed the time for Day 1…stretched at my car and then sat there guzzling water and listening to Black Eyed Peas Tonight is the Night, feeling accomplished.  Even though I didn’t run the entire time (I lacked 5 minutes) I did do my best and completed the time for Day 1!!!!

Now I am ready for Day 2 – Wednesday here I come!!!! Woo Hoo!

Prelude to a Run

The day I bought my shoes I proceeded to buy a new pack of socks, new pair of shorts (to run in of course) and 2 new shirts (also to run in).  I know, I know, I didn’t neeeeeed them but I am a chronic shopper, and like I mentioned before, any excuse to go shopping is ok by me!  Besides it gets me excited about the fact that I am going to be running, an activity that I once avoided at all costs! 

I really feel I need to back up for a moment before I get ahead of myself.  Back in October 2008 I started trying to eat right.  I ate more whole grains, cut out white potatos and white breads, and started using Splenda and loaded up on sugar-free products.  In December I found a program that was actually organized by a trainer that attended my church.  I was lucky enough to sign on and be able to make payments.  I had always wanted to use a personal trainer but could never afford it, this trainer actually wants to help people so she formulated this year long program that would re-train you to eat right and get fit all very affordable!  Here I was already close to 30 pounds lighter than when I started by myself in October. moreover I really thought I was doing everything the right way.  I proudly exclaimed my new found love of sugar-free products and ability to exclude white potatos and white bread from my diet.  To which I quickly learned I really hadn’t got it right at all!!!  Well, maybe just a smidgen.  As I worked the program and started integrating more natural, whole foods into my diet I felt one of my bumps coming.  I ignored it though besides, I was doing very well, drinking only water.  I had already gotten rid of all soda on my own and now I was elimating all the “sugar-free” drink options I had become so fond of.  I was learning the dangers of artificial sweetners.  I also learned about High Fructose Corn Syrup and the horrors of processed foods, which I had grown up on and loved.  Now, I really was doing good.  Although I wasn’t actually losing very quickly I was ok with that because I was learning the right ways to eat.  On my own, before the natural progression of the class I started using a stationery bike and doing weightloss yoga (which I loved both), I was truly feeling great!  And then it started creeping up on me…my natural “bump” that always caught me…no matter how good my weight loss was going I would inevitably hit this bump and get thrown way off course.  (One time I actually had lost 60 pounds, only to hit this bump and gain it all back p-lus 10 more!)  This time the bump started creeping up on me while I was waiting to be able to afford my running shoes.  So that was my crutch or excuse…”If I couldn’t get my shoes and start running why worry too much?”  which I knew was a crock!  But man, I am good at deceiving myself.  For at least a month, maybe closer to a month and a half I didn’t eat all natural, whole foods.  I started drinking a little soda, running through fast food places…I was starting to make myself mad and ashamed!!!  I was gaining back what I had lost in the new program I started.  All that hard work was becoming un-done…I even missed class 2 weeks in a row!  Sure, I had excuses but I know could have forced myself to go if it had not been for shame of what I had done…or rather what I hadn’t been doing!  But then, the light at the end of my ever darkening tunnel…I GOT MY SHOES!   I got them, the only thing holding me back, well that’s what I kept telling myself anyway!  That’s when I realized and I think it really sunk in this time, the only person I am hurting IS me and my family.  I wanted to be healthier to be around for my son and if I eat something bad I am the one with gas or cramps or a full binge-y feeling, no one else suffers through that but me!  So why did I think I was getting away with something all these times.  I have to keep telling myself, NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS SKINNY FEELS!

Now, as I sit and celebrate the 4th of July I know in the back of my mind this is IT…come Monday morning I am starting my training program.  Couch to 5k has my name written all over it!  Back to journaling, back to making better choices, back to being happy again and back on my way to being Fabulous by 40, that is my ultimate goal afterall!!!  Now I know I can do it, and to think that in my silly mind it was all contingent upon a pair $70 Brooks running shoes!  Man, the things we put ourselves through.

My Goal…shoes???

Not too long ago I set a pretty big goal for myself…I want to train to run a 5k.  To some that may not be such an accomplishment but for someone that has never run, unless something was chasing me or a bug was coming at me, and needs to lose a considerable amount of weight that’s a HUGE goal!!!  I honestly didn’t even have a specific 5k in mind – I really just wanted to be able to do it.  When I started telling people I got mixed reactions and A LOT of concern.  Among the things I heard were:  “Have you ever ran?”, “Don’t hurt yourself!”, “That’d be great.”, “SUPER”, and then the big one…”Make sure you get the right shoes!” 

‘Make sure I get the right shoes?’  Wow I hadn’t even thought of that but any excuse for a shopping trip is fine by me!  I started asking around about running shoes.  Most people I know (they are NOT runners) said check the clearance racks  – which I normally DO, but this time it felt different…like I really wanted to take this seriously.  The last time I bought sneakers was about…man, it had to be like 7-8 YEARS ago.  I live in Florida, I am Floridian, I wear flip flops…ALL the time.  I am the typical jeans and flip flops in the winter type of girl.  Dressy flip flops for work and church, waterproof flip flops for the beach and comfy-well-supported flip flops for lots of walking; RARELY do I wear closed toe shoes nevermind sneakers.  In fact my sneakers are SO BAD that last time I wore them for the day, a trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure I got a blister…not on the back of my heal…not on the ball of my foot…no, I managed to get the strangest blister about an inch and a half long on the outer SIDE of my heel…then by compensating throughout the day for it I got a blister on TOP of my opposite pinky toe.  That my friends was my first inclination that it was time for new shoes.  But honestly, I don’t use them often enough to run out and make that purchase.  NOW, on the otherhand I had set a goal…I needed to get new shoes for a purpose!

Once I decided to be serious I asked my trainers about shoes.  Without hesitation I heard “Brooks…defiinitely Brooks!”  I thought, ’hmmm, I’d never heard of those before.  My trainer sent me the link to a website that spoke about running shoes and a website that helps the beginning runner get started.  The website about shoes seemed like it was in a foreign language, with all the talk about pronation, cushioning and arches I was left wondering what I’d gotten myself into, I just wanted to run a 5k afterall!!!  I must say now, I am a Googler, I Google about EVERYTHING…I looove Google.  I’ve tried other search engines but none give me what I am looking for like Google, so I opened multiple windows and started my research into the complicated world of running shoes!  Once I learned that pronation didn’t mean you loved the USA and it actually referred to the rotation of your foot I determined that I need a “cushion” shoe…which again I would have thought everyone needed cushioning! LOL 

With that information in hand as soon as I I had the money to make the purchase I headed to the mall, Finish Line to be exact.  I walked in and saw shoes lining the walls.  To my right, I saw “Running” proudly displayed at the top of the first section.  As I headed over I thought well, I can forget anything cute and/or pink…get style out of my mind right now – I need to think practical and purposeful!  As I found Brooks and started viewing my choices and a salesperson quickly came over to my rescue, err to help me!  After we established that she in fact knew about running shoes she asked if I wanted men’s in particular.  Shocked, I said ‘Not really, why are they better?’  She said not at all, it’s just that you’re looking in the men’s section…doh!  Once we got to the right section, and my face returned to flesh color, I explained the nifty website I had visited and that I needed “cushioned” shoes, that narrowed it down to 2 pairs.  $124 and $70.  Instinctively I wanted to jump and get the $70 without hesitation, but I thought lets play this out.  She brought both pairs and I grabbed my socks out of my purse, because you know I was wearing my flip flops into the store! LOL  She said put one of each on at the same time, I played along.  I was AMAZED at the difference you could feel…really amazed.  That is when I learned that the cushion meant it is extra cushioned on the outside of my foot so it wouldn’t roll outwards as easily as it does naturally.  I loved the $124 shoe so much but had a hard time convincing my practical side that I should go for it.  The salesperson could tell since I started asking like how long running shoes last and such.  So she started explaining about the inserts you can purchase…turns out the $124 actually had a better insert than the ones you buy BUT the $70 could use some improvement…so we slipped one in and I made my decision.  Based on the fact that I had never run and may really hate it I bought the $70 shoes with the $20 inserts and still saved a little over $30 to get me started.  In the back of my mind though I walked out of that store already calculating my return trip to purchase the $124 shoes and being well started into my training!!!  Now I had my shoes…I was ready to go running!