The three-day weekend spoiled me - getting up for Kaia this morning was really tough. But I did (yay me), and we did a mostly outdoor workout, which was fun. I like working out outside as long as it's not too hot. After Kaia, I went for a run - I wanted to see if running in the morning before it got hot would be easier, and it was. Unfortunately, my knee started hurting about halfway through, so I had to stop and walk part of it.
I had to go to the store this morning, and since I did Kaia *and* went for a run, I got myself a donut. It's just too hard to go to the store in the morning and not get one! I think it's okay as long as it's an occasional indulgence rather than an everyday treat. When Sean came home from work and saw that I had a donut, he recommended that I give him half because it's unhealthy. Of course, he really just wanted half of it...or even better, a whole one.
I also went for a short walk this morning because I had some errands to take care of. This afternoon I ended up taking a nap...I was just so tired! This evening I was busy with OFA stuff; which is always fun. Hopefully I'll sleep well tonight and be less tired tomorrow!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sorry about the hiatus...
So I know it's been a while since I posted, but I will do my best to write a new entry at least twice a week. I've been struggling the past few weeks - I've felt sluggish and like I can't run as much as I could before. Part of it is that the heat really bothers me, so I'm going to try to get my runs in early in the morning. I'm also going to ask Sean to run with me to help with the motivation. He can't run with me tomorrow because he'll be at work, but he should be able to join me on Thursday for a run. I think that having someone to run with will really help.
Kaia had its first swim class last week, and I'm really glad that I went. Eventually (not this year) I want to do a triathlon, so I'll need to work on my swimming to make that a reality. However, I had never really learned to swim before, or if I did, I don't remember it. Sure, I could doggy paddle, and I knew the basic strokes, but until last week I was never really able to swim laps. So I'm happy to be learning something new, and I like the feeling of accomplishment. It's also a really good way to cross-train with running because it's so easy on the joints.
Today, Sean and I went for a 35 minute walk to the food co-op and back. I didn't really need anything, but the walk was good and I like going to the co-op. Tonight I'm busy with volunteer stuff, so I won't be getting much exercise.
Oh, and the highlight of my week last week (not related to fitness, but still very cool): Kal Penn came to Reno for OFA and I got to drive him around. It was really cool to get to know him and hear about the issues that he's interested in. He's really smart, funny (obviously), and he was also really nice. I was worried that I wouldn't have anything to talk about with him, since I hadn't seen any of his movies, but that wasn't a problem - we're both politically passionate so that gave us plenty to talk about. After meeting him, I did watch Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, just so I could say that I've seen one of his movies, but I'm happy that I waited until after meeting him before watching the movie, so I could get to know him and not have any preconceptions based on who he is in the movie. I also felt bad that he had to cram himself into my little car - at one point, I was driving him and two staffers around. My car was not designed for that many people! Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but it is very much a small-person car, and is best for no more than two people. But it was a really neat experience...how many people can say that they've been a driver for a day for a famous actor? :-)
Kaia had its first swim class last week, and I'm really glad that I went. Eventually (not this year) I want to do a triathlon, so I'll need to work on my swimming to make that a reality. However, I had never really learned to swim before, or if I did, I don't remember it. Sure, I could doggy paddle, and I knew the basic strokes, but until last week I was never really able to swim laps. So I'm happy to be learning something new, and I like the feeling of accomplishment. It's also a really good way to cross-train with running because it's so easy on the joints.
Today, Sean and I went for a 35 minute walk to the food co-op and back. I didn't really need anything, but the walk was good and I like going to the co-op. Tonight I'm busy with volunteer stuff, so I won't be getting much exercise.
Oh, and the highlight of my week last week (not related to fitness, but still very cool): Kal Penn came to Reno for OFA and I got to drive him around. It was really cool to get to know him and hear about the issues that he's interested in. He's really smart, funny (obviously), and he was also really nice. I was worried that I wouldn't have anything to talk about with him, since I hadn't seen any of his movies, but that wasn't a problem - we're both politically passionate so that gave us plenty to talk about. After meeting him, I did watch Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, just so I could say that I've seen one of his movies, but I'm happy that I waited until after meeting him before watching the movie, so I could get to know him and not have any preconceptions based on who he is in the movie. I also felt bad that he had to cram himself into my little car - at one point, I was driving him and two staffers around. My car was not designed for that many people! Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but it is very much a small-person car, and is best for no more than two people. But it was a really neat experience...how many people can say that they've been a driver for a day for a famous actor? :-)
Monday, May 7, 2012
Today's Exercise
So, I somehow banged up my knee yesterday. It was pretty sore last night and this morning (just the right knee, the left was fine). Sean didn't want me to go to Kaia, but I didn't want to mess up my perfect attendance. So I went, but I told the coaches that I was taking it easy because of the sore knee. I didn't do any running or jumping or anything else that was high-impact.
One thing that was hard about that was watching other people run and jump. For some reason, I really like sprinting, and there was one station where we did that today. Of course, I couldn't sprint; I had to walk - and watching everyone else sprint was difficult. I'm used to being able to do things like that, but I didn't want to hurt my knee more and end up getting a worse injury. I was really careful, and when I came home I iced the knee and let it rest for a while.
Tonight, the knee is feeling much better. I'm not wearing the knee brace, but I am trying to avoid high-impact activities. Sean and I went for a walk this evening, which was nice, although I had to walk a little slower than usual. I also did some strength exercises - again, I avoided anything that put stress on the knee. Tomorrow, I think I'll try to do high-impact activities for one round, and then take it easy for the next few rounds (of whatever we end up doing). Of course, if my knee is sore in the morning, or if I get pain during class, I won't do any high-impact activities. I'm hoping that by Wednesday I'll be back to normal and be able to do all of the exercises...but if I'm not, that's okay. Like I said, I'd rather take it easy now than push myself too far and end up seriously damaging the knee.
I had a pretty good day nutrition-wise - oatmeal for breakfast, smoothie with protein for lunch, and the Cucumber Pesto Salad for dinner. I did cheat a little bit with the salad - I added some parmesan cheese, which made it way better! I'm still not at the point where I like salad, but it's easy to make and very healthy, so I'll eat it.
Have you ever injured yourself while exercising? How long did it take you to heal?
One thing that was hard about that was watching other people run and jump. For some reason, I really like sprinting, and there was one station where we did that today. Of course, I couldn't sprint; I had to walk - and watching everyone else sprint was difficult. I'm used to being able to do things like that, but I didn't want to hurt my knee more and end up getting a worse injury. I was really careful, and when I came home I iced the knee and let it rest for a while.
Tonight, the knee is feeling much better. I'm not wearing the knee brace, but I am trying to avoid high-impact activities. Sean and I went for a walk this evening, which was nice, although I had to walk a little slower than usual. I also did some strength exercises - again, I avoided anything that put stress on the knee. Tomorrow, I think I'll try to do high-impact activities for one round, and then take it easy for the next few rounds (of whatever we end up doing). Of course, if my knee is sore in the morning, or if I get pain during class, I won't do any high-impact activities. I'm hoping that by Wednesday I'll be back to normal and be able to do all of the exercises...but if I'm not, that's okay. Like I said, I'd rather take it easy now than push myself too far and end up seriously damaging the knee.
I had a pretty good day nutrition-wise - oatmeal for breakfast, smoothie with protein for lunch, and the Cucumber Pesto Salad for dinner. I did cheat a little bit with the salad - I added some parmesan cheese, which made it way better! I'm still not at the point where I like salad, but it's easy to make and very healthy, so I'll eat it.
Have you ever injured yourself while exercising? How long did it take you to heal?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
1st 5k!
This morning I ran my first 5k. I got there about an hour early, which really wasn't necessary - half an hour or even fifteen minutes would have been fine (but now I know that). But I got to see the marathon start, and I hung out with some Kaia girls (they were wearing Kaia t-shirts, so I just went up and said hi!). It was very cold this morning, so hanging out for an hour wasn't very fun. Of course, once we started running I warmed up pretty quickly.
I ran the entire first mile in about ten and a half minutes, which was too fast. It's a common mistake, and no matter how many times someone tells you that you need to go slowly, you don't realize how slowly until you actually race. After the first mile, some of the Kaia girls who were not running were handing out water, so it was good to see them and have someone cheering for me. :-) The second mile was tough - I took several walk breaks, but I still ran about half of it. The crowd had thinned out considerably by the time we reached the turnaround point, which helped a little bit. Then, when I hit the third mile, I ran most of it - I figured it was the last mile, and I did some sprinting once I got near the finish line. My goal was to complete the 5k in under 35 minutes, and I just did that (according to my watch, at least) by finishing in 34:50. So, not only did I finish, but I finished under my goal time and I ran about two-thirds of the way. Sean was near the finish line, so again, it felt great to have someone rooting for me! Every person who finished got a medal, so I have that, and the race t-shirt and bib, and I'm going to buy a paper tomorrow because it will have all of the results and I want to save it.
Now that I've done it, I know that I can do it again. I'm signed for one in July in Santa Cruz, then I'm doing a 10k in PA (which I will probably walk a large portion of). After we move to Boulder, I'm doing another 10k in mid-August, then I start school, so I won't have much time to train. Next summer, I'd like to complete a half-marathon.
Other than some pain in my knee, I feel fantastic. I did it! :-)
I ran the entire first mile in about ten and a half minutes, which was too fast. It's a common mistake, and no matter how many times someone tells you that you need to go slowly, you don't realize how slowly until you actually race. After the first mile, some of the Kaia girls who were not running were handing out water, so it was good to see them and have someone cheering for me. :-) The second mile was tough - I took several walk breaks, but I still ran about half of it. The crowd had thinned out considerably by the time we reached the turnaround point, which helped a little bit. Then, when I hit the third mile, I ran most of it - I figured it was the last mile, and I did some sprinting once I got near the finish line. My goal was to complete the 5k in under 35 minutes, and I just did that (according to my watch, at least) by finishing in 34:50. So, not only did I finish, but I finished under my goal time and I ran about two-thirds of the way. Sean was near the finish line, so again, it felt great to have someone rooting for me! Every person who finished got a medal, so I have that, and the race t-shirt and bib, and I'm going to buy a paper tomorrow because it will have all of the results and I want to save it.
Now that I've done it, I know that I can do it again. I'm signed for one in July in Santa Cruz, then I'm doing a 10k in PA (which I will probably walk a large portion of). After we move to Boulder, I'm doing another 10k in mid-August, then I start school, so I won't have much time to train. Next summer, I'd like to complete a half-marathon.
Other than some pain in my knee, I feel fantastic. I did it! :-)
Saturday, May 5, 2012
First 5k tomorrow...
So, tomorrow is my first 5k. I'm really nervous. It's not the running that I'm worried about, it's just that I've never done this before and I know there are going to be thousands of people there (literally - there are 4000 runners alone, not counting volunteers and spectators). I'm not sure how many of those people are doing the 5k, but hopefully there won't be too many.
So I have a lot of questions, and they said on the website that they would have volunteers to assist new runners at today's expo. Well, I never had the opportunity to talk to one of these special volunteers...there were so many people there, and the race bib pick-up location was different from where we picked up the swag items...so it was very confusing. The store sponsoring the event is huge, and easy to get lost in without large crowds of people. There's a Ferris wheel inside the store - I'm not exaggerating when I say that this place is huge! (It's the only place I've ever seen an indoor Ferris wheel.) The man giving me directions to where to pick up the packet said, "Turn by the saltwater fish. If you see freshwater fish, you're going in the wrong direction." Um...how am I supposed to know the difference between saltwater and freshwater fish? Couldn't you just put up signs with arrows?
I'm going to show up early tomorrow - but how early should I show up? The 5k race starts at 7:30, and it takes me about 20 minutes to walk from my house to where the race starts. I'm thinking I'll leave tomorrow around 6, and plan to get there about an hour early, and hopefully that will be enough time. Also, what should I wear? They gave out a free t-shirt at the expo - am I supposed to wear that, or not? They also said that the event will be chip-timed - what does that mean? Does the chip start timing at the start of the race or when you cross the start line (since I'll be towards the back, I'd like to know how fast I run the 3.1 miles; not how long it took me to get to the start line)? What do I need to bring with me - is ID necessary? Also, the race bib comes with a tear-off portion at the bottom, with spaces for name, age, and address. Do I fill that out now? I feel incredibly overwhelmed right now and I wish that they would have been clearer about what to do for first-timers. Any help or advice you can offer would be much appreciated!
Have you run a race before? What advice do you have for someone running their first 5k?
So I have a lot of questions, and they said on the website that they would have volunteers to assist new runners at today's expo. Well, I never had the opportunity to talk to one of these special volunteers...there were so many people there, and the race bib pick-up location was different from where we picked up the swag items...so it was very confusing. The store sponsoring the event is huge, and easy to get lost in without large crowds of people. There's a Ferris wheel inside the store - I'm not exaggerating when I say that this place is huge! (It's the only place I've ever seen an indoor Ferris wheel.) The man giving me directions to where to pick up the packet said, "Turn by the saltwater fish. If you see freshwater fish, you're going in the wrong direction." Um...how am I supposed to know the difference between saltwater and freshwater fish? Couldn't you just put up signs with arrows?
I'm going to show up early tomorrow - but how early should I show up? The 5k race starts at 7:30, and it takes me about 20 minutes to walk from my house to where the race starts. I'm thinking I'll leave tomorrow around 6, and plan to get there about an hour early, and hopefully that will be enough time. Also, what should I wear? They gave out a free t-shirt at the expo - am I supposed to wear that, or not? They also said that the event will be chip-timed - what does that mean? Does the chip start timing at the start of the race or when you cross the start line (since I'll be towards the back, I'd like to know how fast I run the 3.1 miles; not how long it took me to get to the start line)? What do I need to bring with me - is ID necessary? Also, the race bib comes with a tear-off portion at the bottom, with spaces for name, age, and address. Do I fill that out now? I feel incredibly overwhelmed right now and I wish that they would have been clearer about what to do for first-timers. Any help or advice you can offer would be much appreciated!
Have you run a race before? What advice do you have for someone running their first 5k?
Friday, May 4, 2012
Beautiful Day for Hiking
I really, really did not want to get out of bed this morning when my alarm went off. But I had planned to get a massage today and I told myself that I could only get the massage if I went to Kaia. So I got up and went...today was yoga day, although that doesn't mean that today was easy! I felt somewhat better afterwards, and I'm glad that I can say that I had perfect attendance this week. Now I just need to do this for five more weeks...
After Kaia, I went home and ate breakfast, and Sean and I went up to White's Creek to go hiking. We went for about an hour and a half, and the weather was wonderful. It was a little cool - I brought a jacket and fleece ear warmers with me and I was glad that I had - but otherwise, it was a perfect day for hiking (and I would prefer it to be a little cool rather than a little hot). We saw a couple mountain bikers, but we were out there pretty early, so we didn't run into any other hikers. I had plans for this afternoon, and Sean wanted to see the Avengers movie, so we wanted today's hike to be short. Next week we'll go on a longer hike. I don't know how many miles we went, but that doesn't really matter - what's important is that we enjoyed ourselves!
I also did some walking this afternoon, and I got a massage (I figure that I've earned it!). Sean and I went out for dinner, which wasn't so great for the nutrition plan, but I've decided that I'm going to pick what works for me from that plan and ignore the rest. This doesn't mean that I'll be eating junk food, it just means that an occasional indulgence is okay, and I'll try to watch what I eat and make sure that it's healthy food. I'm eating more fruits and vegetables, and fewer sugary foods, so that's good. I'm also trying to get some form of exercise every day, whether it's running or walking or yoga or Kaia, or a combination of those. In fact, since Kaia started, I've done additional exercise four out of the five days this week. So as long as I'm moving, it's okay for me to eat a few extra calories.
I am feeling stronger. I can do fifteen push-ups now, and I could barely do five when I started (real push-ups, not girly on-the-knees push-ups). My biceps are looking good, my stomach is getting smaller, and overall I feel like I have more energy. My legs are also feeling stronger - my calves and quads are pretty solid right now. It's great to see some results from all of this hard work!
After Kaia, I went home and ate breakfast, and Sean and I went up to White's Creek to go hiking. We went for about an hour and a half, and the weather was wonderful. It was a little cool - I brought a jacket and fleece ear warmers with me and I was glad that I had - but otherwise, it was a perfect day for hiking (and I would prefer it to be a little cool rather than a little hot). We saw a couple mountain bikers, but we were out there pretty early, so we didn't run into any other hikers. I had plans for this afternoon, and Sean wanted to see the Avengers movie, so we wanted today's hike to be short. Next week we'll go on a longer hike. I don't know how many miles we went, but that doesn't really matter - what's important is that we enjoyed ourselves!
I also did some walking this afternoon, and I got a massage (I figure that I've earned it!). Sean and I went out for dinner, which wasn't so great for the nutrition plan, but I've decided that I'm going to pick what works for me from that plan and ignore the rest. This doesn't mean that I'll be eating junk food, it just means that an occasional indulgence is okay, and I'll try to watch what I eat and make sure that it's healthy food. I'm eating more fruits and vegetables, and fewer sugary foods, so that's good. I'm also trying to get some form of exercise every day, whether it's running or walking or yoga or Kaia, or a combination of those. In fact, since Kaia started, I've done additional exercise four out of the five days this week. So as long as I'm moving, it's okay for me to eat a few extra calories.
I am feeling stronger. I can do fifteen push-ups now, and I could barely do five when I started (real push-ups, not girly on-the-knees push-ups). My biceps are looking good, my stomach is getting smaller, and overall I feel like I have more energy. My legs are also feeling stronger - my calves and quads are pretty solid right now. It's great to see some results from all of this hard work!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Kaia and 2-mile run
Yesterday and today, I haven't felt very well. I've been very tired and out of sorts. Today, Sean had to drive me to a doctor's appointment because I was not feeling good enough to drive (although I felt fine when I drove to Kaia at 6 am...not sure why I was okay then but not later).
Anyway, the Kaia workout was good. There were five stations, and each station had 3-4 sets of 2-3 exercises. We had to do 20 reps of each exercise, and we had eight minutes to complete each station. Some stations were easier than others...the last one my team did was the hardest. We had to do twenty Kaia builders (similar to squat thrusts, but with a couple extra moves), among other things. I'm very glad that I did the Core session before this one, cause this session is totally kicking my butt as it is! I can't imagine how much worse it would be if I was starting with being completely out of shape and having no strength.
This evening, I still wasn't feeling good, but I went running anyway. My plan was to run for two miles. Well, I ran a mile and a half, but then stomach pain stopped me and I had to walk the last half mile. I did the two miles in 26 minutes, which isn't too bad...the first mile-and-a-half (which I ran most of) I completed in about eighteen minutes. So I didn't really run two miles, but at least I did the two miles! (I didn't really have a choice - when the stomach pain hit my car was half a mile away!) And running a mile and a half is pretty damn good, at least for me, considering that I couldn't run a quarter mile a couple months ago.
I'm hoping I'll feel better by Sunday. I'm doing the 5k no matter what, but depending on how I feel I may have to walk most of it. But if I'm feeling better, I'm going to try to run the whole way, with short walk breaks as needed. I've been ignoring the nutrition plan for the past two days - I simply haven't had the energy to make the meals, and I've had time constraints that made it difficult. And it's not like I've been eating junk food; I'm still eating healthy, even if it's not what the plan says. After all, I'm still keeping a food journal, and that makes it harder for me to eat junk. :-)
If you're a runner, do you remember how far you could run when you first started? What obstacles did you face and how did you get through them? If you're not a runner, why not?
Anyway, the Kaia workout was good. There were five stations, and each station had 3-4 sets of 2-3 exercises. We had to do 20 reps of each exercise, and we had eight minutes to complete each station. Some stations were easier than others...the last one my team did was the hardest. We had to do twenty Kaia builders (similar to squat thrusts, but with a couple extra moves), among other things. I'm very glad that I did the Core session before this one, cause this session is totally kicking my butt as it is! I can't imagine how much worse it would be if I was starting with being completely out of shape and having no strength.
This evening, I still wasn't feeling good, but I went running anyway. My plan was to run for two miles. Well, I ran a mile and a half, but then stomach pain stopped me and I had to walk the last half mile. I did the two miles in 26 minutes, which isn't too bad...the first mile-and-a-half (which I ran most of) I completed in about eighteen minutes. So I didn't really run two miles, but at least I did the two miles! (I didn't really have a choice - when the stomach pain hit my car was half a mile away!) And running a mile and a half is pretty damn good, at least for me, considering that I couldn't run a quarter mile a couple months ago.
I'm hoping I'll feel better by Sunday. I'm doing the 5k no matter what, but depending on how I feel I may have to walk most of it. But if I'm feeling better, I'm going to try to run the whole way, with short walk breaks as needed. I've been ignoring the nutrition plan for the past two days - I simply haven't had the energy to make the meals, and I've had time constraints that made it difficult. And it's not like I've been eating junk food; I'm still eating healthy, even if it's not what the plan says. After all, I'm still keeping a food journal, and that makes it harder for me to eat junk. :-)
If you're a runner, do you remember how far you could run when you first started? What obstacles did you face and how did you get through them? If you're not a runner, why not?
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Kaia and Yoga
This morning's workout at Kaia was difficult. The exercises themselves weren't that hard, but some of them required a minimal amount of thought...and I wasn't very awake. So I did the best I could. It was also very cold outside, so when we went outside to do push-ups and tricep dips on the benches, our hands froze (not literally, it just felt that way).
Overall, it was a good workout. Some difficult exercises - push-ups with a partner who holds your ankles and does squats was too much for us, and some easier ones. But the whole class I felt like I wasn't really with it, so today was not my best. I did my best to push through the fog, but it was difficult.
Tonight, I'm going to yoga. I'm not really looking forward to it - that "fog" feeling from this morning never really went away. I came home after Kaia and went back to bed, but that didn't help. It just feels like today is one of those days that we all have from time to time. The thing is, I do want to do yoga. I just don't want to go to a class where I'm being pushed to do more than I feel like I can today. And yes, I realize that I didn't think I could run a whole mile before yesterday, and now I know that I can. However, today is just an "off" day, so I think it's best to take it easy this evening. Regardless of how I feel, I still need to go, and I can just let Carol know that I need to take it easy tonight.
My first 5k is on Sunday! I'm excited for it. Tomorrow, my plan is to run two miles in the evening, then one mile on Friday. Saturday will be a yoga day, and then Sunday is race day! Of course, I also have Kaia tomorrow and Friday mornings. I also scheduled a massage for myself on Friday as a reward for attending every Kaia class this week. If I don't go tomorrow or the next day...then I can't get a massage. That's a good way to motivate myself to get out of bed so early!
Overall, it was a good workout. Some difficult exercises - push-ups with a partner who holds your ankles and does squats was too much for us, and some easier ones. But the whole class I felt like I wasn't really with it, so today was not my best. I did my best to push through the fog, but it was difficult.
Tonight, I'm going to yoga. I'm not really looking forward to it - that "fog" feeling from this morning never really went away. I came home after Kaia and went back to bed, but that didn't help. It just feels like today is one of those days that we all have from time to time. The thing is, I do want to do yoga. I just don't want to go to a class where I'm being pushed to do more than I feel like I can today. And yes, I realize that I didn't think I could run a whole mile before yesterday, and now I know that I can. However, today is just an "off" day, so I think it's best to take it easy this evening. Regardless of how I feel, I still need to go, and I can just let Carol know that I need to take it easy tonight.
My first 5k is on Sunday! I'm excited for it. Tomorrow, my plan is to run two miles in the evening, then one mile on Friday. Saturday will be a yoga day, and then Sunday is race day! Of course, I also have Kaia tomorrow and Friday mornings. I also scheduled a massage for myself on Friday as a reward for attending every Kaia class this week. If I don't go tomorrow or the next day...then I can't get a massage. That's a good way to motivate myself to get out of bed so early!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Running a mile
At Kaia this morning, it was fit test time. Basically, we do as many of a specific exercise as we can in one minute. We did speed squats, jumping jacks, push-ups, pull-ups, and more. Then we got to run a mile. I ran for almost the whole mile, with just a few short walk breaks. My mile time was 10 minutes and 45 seconds, which is faster than I thought I could do. If I can keep that pace on Sunday, I'll be very happy with my 5k time. Of course, I realize that running 5k requires more endurance and so my miles will probably be slower. That's okay. I'd like to do it in 35 min. or less, which I think I can do, but if I don't, at least I will have completed my first 5k. It's okay if it's slow; I just need to finish.
I'm not doing too great with the nutrition plan today. I ate the rest of the chocolate bar that I had leftover from yesterday, and I was still craving something sweet. So I looked in my cabinet, and decided to have a banana. Then I saw that I had some leftover dried coconut from yesterday's dinner. I thought I'd try dipping the banana in coconut. It was delicious! And it satisfied my "sweet" craving. I'm proud that I came up with it myself, and it worked out well. We're supposed to be snacking on veggies, but I really don't like veggies very much, and I love fruit, and I need the calories from fruit, so I figure it's okay. Besides, fruit is far better than chips, cookies, and other junk-snack food. However, the problem with the banana was that it was fairly filling, so it's 3:00 and I haven't had lunch yet (I'm going to eat lunch as soon as I'm done writing this). Since we're supposed to eat dinner before 6, I'm not sure how that's going to work. It doesn't help that I have to be at OFA tonight and therefore can't cook dinner (not to mention that they have some yummy but bad for you snacks there!). I think I'll just have a smoothie in place of the meal, then get back to the plan tomorrow. Really, my ideal plan would be two large meals a day with plenty of small snacks in between, but with all of the veggies that I'm eating, that won't give me enough calories.
I know it's strange that I'm more worried about eating enough than eating too much, but I really don't need to lose weight. I'm skinny already; I just want more lean muscle, strength, and definition. Being skinny is not synonymous with being fit - I've been skinny all my life, but never up until a year ago could I even be considered remotely fit. Being fit to me means having strength, endurance, and flexibility, and being happy with your body. What is your definition of "fit?"
I'm not doing too great with the nutrition plan today. I ate the rest of the chocolate bar that I had leftover from yesterday, and I was still craving something sweet. So I looked in my cabinet, and decided to have a banana. Then I saw that I had some leftover dried coconut from yesterday's dinner. I thought I'd try dipping the banana in coconut. It was delicious! And it satisfied my "sweet" craving. I'm proud that I came up with it myself, and it worked out well. We're supposed to be snacking on veggies, but I really don't like veggies very much, and I love fruit, and I need the calories from fruit, so I figure it's okay. Besides, fruit is far better than chips, cookies, and other junk-snack food. However, the problem with the banana was that it was fairly filling, so it's 3:00 and I haven't had lunch yet (I'm going to eat lunch as soon as I'm done writing this). Since we're supposed to eat dinner before 6, I'm not sure how that's going to work. It doesn't help that I have to be at OFA tonight and therefore can't cook dinner (not to mention that they have some yummy but bad for you snacks there!). I think I'll just have a smoothie in place of the meal, then get back to the plan tomorrow. Really, my ideal plan would be two large meals a day with plenty of small snacks in between, but with all of the veggies that I'm eating, that won't give me enough calories.
I know it's strange that I'm more worried about eating enough than eating too much, but I really don't need to lose weight. I'm skinny already; I just want more lean muscle, strength, and definition. Being skinny is not synonymous with being fit - I've been skinny all my life, but never up until a year ago could I even be considered remotely fit. Being fit to me means having strength, endurance, and flexibility, and being happy with your body. What is your definition of "fit?"
Monday, April 30, 2012
First Day of Kaia!
So I started bright and early this morning with Kaia class. Surprisingly, I woke up before my alarms, so my fears of oversleeping were overblown! Man, that class kicked my butt! I'm glad I did a session before the boot camp, otherwise I don't know how I would have survived this morning. :-) We had stations, and each station had three different exercises, and included cardio moves and strength-building exercises.
I am sore all over and I'm sure I'll be even more sore after tomorrow's workout.
The other difficult thing is that this class comes with a nutrition component. I'm trying to follow it, but sometimes it's hard. Today, I had a doctor's appointment, and this doctor keeps a bowl of wrapped Hershey's chocolates in her office. Well, I knew that I wouldn't be able to resist, but instead of eating the low-quality chocolate, I bought myself a small organic chocolate bar from Whole Foods. I ate half of it. The other half is hiding in the back of the refrigerator - I know I'm going to give in eventually (my goal is to wait until Wednesday to eat it), but I can't throw chocolate away. It would just be wrong. And I figure that if my only sweet for the day is half a chocolate bar, I'm doing pretty good. Besides, I really don't want to lose weight, so I need the extra calories. Granted, I'm sure I could get them from something healthier...but it's better to give in to the craving with a small piece of chocolate than to deny the craving and end up bingeing on junk food.
I cooked dinner tonight for the first time in a long time...green beans with coconut and quinoa. It was pretty good - I like green beans, and I like coconut, and there's some left over for tomorrow (although Sean might get up in the middle of the night and eat it). I had a salad for lunch - lettuce, spinach, and cucumber with garlic, pine nuts, and lemon juice. That was not as delicious...I'm not a big fan of salads. Unfortunately, lunch for this whole week is salads, so I'll just have to get used to eating them. Besides, they are really good for you (as long as you don't add high-fat dressing, which I don't like anyway).
Other than the chocolate, though, I followed the nutrition plan for the most part today. I'm going to do a short (twenty-minute) indoor workout this evening, just to add to the benefits that Kaia's giving me.
I am sore all over and I'm sure I'll be even more sore after tomorrow's workout.
The other difficult thing is that this class comes with a nutrition component. I'm trying to follow it, but sometimes it's hard. Today, I had a doctor's appointment, and this doctor keeps a bowl of wrapped Hershey's chocolates in her office. Well, I knew that I wouldn't be able to resist, but instead of eating the low-quality chocolate, I bought myself a small organic chocolate bar from Whole Foods. I ate half of it. The other half is hiding in the back of the refrigerator - I know I'm going to give in eventually (my goal is to wait until Wednesday to eat it), but I can't throw chocolate away. It would just be wrong. And I figure that if my only sweet for the day is half a chocolate bar, I'm doing pretty good. Besides, I really don't want to lose weight, so I need the extra calories. Granted, I'm sure I could get them from something healthier...but it's better to give in to the craving with a small piece of chocolate than to deny the craving and end up bingeing on junk food.
I cooked dinner tonight for the first time in a long time...green beans with coconut and quinoa. It was pretty good - I like green beans, and I like coconut, and there's some left over for tomorrow (although Sean might get up in the middle of the night and eat it). I had a salad for lunch - lettuce, spinach, and cucumber with garlic, pine nuts, and lemon juice. That was not as delicious...I'm not a big fan of salads. Unfortunately, lunch for this whole week is salads, so I'll just have to get used to eating them. Besides, they are really good for you (as long as you don't add high-fat dressing, which I don't like anyway).
Other than the chocolate, though, I followed the nutrition plan for the most part today. I'm going to do a short (twenty-minute) indoor workout this evening, just to add to the benefits that Kaia's giving me.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Ashtanga yoga
For my exercise today, I went to the morning Mysore class at the local yoga studio. For those of you unfamiliar with Mysore and Ashtanga yoga, it's a self-paced class where each student practices the same series of poses (although advanced students learn a second series) at their own pace.
Why do I practice yoga? I think it improves flexibility, strengthens the entire body, and there's savasana (resting) at the end. I like that part - it's nice to rest for a few minutes after practicing for an hour and a half! Also, I sweat more in that class than I ever have doing any other activity, so I feel like it's working. I can also see improvement fairly quickly, especially when I first began. If you practice regularly, you will get better and be able to go deeper into the poses and learn new poses. You'll also see increased muscle definition and you'll feel stronger. I love the way my arms look after practicing regularly for a few weeks!
Yoga also helps you maintain awareness of your body. When you're aware of how your body feels, you're less likely to eat too much or eat junk food, because the body doesn't feel good afterwards. Really, the idea behind it is that it tires out the body to prepare the mind for meditation - when the body is tired, it will be able to sit still for longer periods of time. Also, you use a lot of mental energy remembering which pose comes next, so it helps to stop the endless mind-chatter.
Tomorrow I start Kaia's six week Brik program. It includes nutrition, so I've cleaned out the fridge and cabinets and I got rid of all forbidden foods (or, for the ones that will keep for more than six weeks, I put them on the highest shelf in our cabinet that I can't reach without a chair). Later today I'm going to Trader Joe's to buy food for this week.
Even though I haven't had Kaia classes the past week, I've gotten used to getting up early, so I don't think it will be too hard to get myself out of bed tomorrow for the 6 am class. I have a three-pronged alarm approach (alarm clock, watch, and cell phone) so it will be very difficult to sleep through all three alarms. :-)
My first 5k is one week away! I'm looking forward to it!
Why do I practice yoga? I think it improves flexibility, strengthens the entire body, and there's savasana (resting) at the end. I like that part - it's nice to rest for a few minutes after practicing for an hour and a half! Also, I sweat more in that class than I ever have doing any other activity, so I feel like it's working. I can also see improvement fairly quickly, especially when I first began. If you practice regularly, you will get better and be able to go deeper into the poses and learn new poses. You'll also see increased muscle definition and you'll feel stronger. I love the way my arms look after practicing regularly for a few weeks!
Yoga also helps you maintain awareness of your body. When you're aware of how your body feels, you're less likely to eat too much or eat junk food, because the body doesn't feel good afterwards. Really, the idea behind it is that it tires out the body to prepare the mind for meditation - when the body is tired, it will be able to sit still for longer periods of time. Also, you use a lot of mental energy remembering which pose comes next, so it helps to stop the endless mind-chatter.
Tomorrow I start Kaia's six week Brik program. It includes nutrition, so I've cleaned out the fridge and cabinets and I got rid of all forbidden foods (or, for the ones that will keep for more than six weeks, I put them on the highest shelf in our cabinet that I can't reach without a chair). Later today I'm going to Trader Joe's to buy food for this week.
Even though I haven't had Kaia classes the past week, I've gotten used to getting up early, so I don't think it will be too hard to get myself out of bed tomorrow for the 6 am class. I have a three-pronged alarm approach (alarm clock, watch, and cell phone) so it will be very difficult to sleep through all three alarms. :-)
My first 5k is one week away! I'm looking forward to it!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Running
This morning, I did a three-mile run (interspersed with walking, as necessary) in 37 minutes. I'm pretty happy about that. In March, my three-mile time was 41 minutes. So I'm improving, which makes me feel good. I'm also able to run for longer distances - if I'm careful and I pace myself, I can run a half-mile without stopping to walk. Pacing myself is difficult though, because when I run, I want to run fast. Otherwise, what's the point of running? I also find it challenging to do short bouts of sprinting during my runs; it helps maintain variety and allows me to push myself.
Next weekend I'm running my first 5k here in Reno. I'm running another 5k in July in Santa Cruz, then a 10k two weeks later in Pennsylvania, then another 10k in August in Boulder. You'll notice that each race is in a different state...I didn't plan that deliberately, that's just how it worked out with my travel/moving plans this summer. I'll be in California for a meditation course beginning on June 15, then I'm heading over to my mother-in-law's house in Santa Cruz, where Sean will meet me and we'll attend a friend's wedding. After that, I'm going to PA for my ten-year high school reunion, which seems hard to believe. And once I get home from that, we'll be packing up and moving at the end of July. Our move-in date for our place in Boulder is August 2, so I'll have a couple of weeks to get settled before the second 10k.
I didn't start running until a few months ago. I decided that running would be a challenge for me, and I'm looking forward to racing this summer. I'm not quite at the point where I consider myself a "real" runner, although I suppose that anyone who runs regularly is a real runner, even if they can't run very far without stopping to walk. But I still feel kind of silly...like all the other people who are running will look at me and be able to tell that I'm not a real runner. I realize that I'm just being self-conscious, and that most of the time, those people are far more worried about how they look to me than about how I look to them.
What, in your opinion, does a "real" runner look like? Is it anyone who's running? Do you consider yourself a real runner, and how long did it take you before you started to think of yourself as one? Or is it more like being a grown-up, where you know you are one even though you don't feel like one?
Next weekend I'm running my first 5k here in Reno. I'm running another 5k in July in Santa Cruz, then a 10k two weeks later in Pennsylvania, then another 10k in August in Boulder. You'll notice that each race is in a different state...I didn't plan that deliberately, that's just how it worked out with my travel/moving plans this summer. I'll be in California for a meditation course beginning on June 15, then I'm heading over to my mother-in-law's house in Santa Cruz, where Sean will meet me and we'll attend a friend's wedding. After that, I'm going to PA for my ten-year high school reunion, which seems hard to believe. And once I get home from that, we'll be packing up and moving at the end of July. Our move-in date for our place in Boulder is August 2, so I'll have a couple of weeks to get settled before the second 10k.
I didn't start running until a few months ago. I decided that running would be a challenge for me, and I'm looking forward to racing this summer. I'm not quite at the point where I consider myself a "real" runner, although I suppose that anyone who runs regularly is a real runner, even if they can't run very far without stopping to walk. But I still feel kind of silly...like all the other people who are running will look at me and be able to tell that I'm not a real runner. I realize that I'm just being self-conscious, and that most of the time, those people are far more worried about how they look to me than about how I look to them.
What, in your opinion, does a "real" runner look like? Is it anyone who's running? Do you consider yourself a real runner, and how long did it take you before you started to think of yourself as one? Or is it more like being a grown-up, where you know you are one even though you don't feel like one?
Friday, April 27, 2012
Why I Love Hiking
The weather was very nice today, so I asked Sean if he wanted to go for a hike with me. It felt great to get outside and do our first hike of the year. We went to the White's Creek trail (it's in the Galena area and it's a nice hike). The weather was beautiful - sunny skies, and the temperature was just right.The creek was somewhat full, although it will probably get more full as it warms up and the snow at the higher elevations starts to melt. I feel incredibly lucky to live in a place that values its outdoor spaces.
The hike lasted for about an hour and a half (not including a half-hour stop for food, water, and rest), and I'm guessing we covered three or four miles. It was a nice relaxing hike, which was nice. It also felt great to spend some quality time with Sean - he's been so busy with school lately, it feels like we've hardly seen each other.
So, here are some reasons I love hiking:
1. The Great Outdoors. I just love being outdoors. The shining sun, the sound of the creek, birds chirping...it's all so miraculous. I think that our modern lives are somewhat disconnected from nature, and that's just not right. It's not natural for humans to sit inside an office all day and in a home all night. We evolved to be outside during the daytime (except during periods of intense heat), and it feels good to get outside and explore.
2. You never know what you're going to see. I've liked hiking since before I can remember. One day, when I was 3 or 4, I saw a fawn while on a hike with my mother (the fawn was alone; I think her mother was getting her food). I don't remember this, but it's one of my mom's favorite stories, and a good life lesson: always keep an eye out for wildlife, because you might see something amazing!
3. Clearing your mind. Hiking, walking, running - basically anything where you're using your legs to propel yourself - is excellent for clearing the mind. Sometimes I can think about things from a different perspective, and it helps to solve problems or reduce the chatter in my mind. It's also a good opportunity to reconnect with someone you care about, because it's almost like a mini-vacation. You don't have any worries or cares, so you're able to relax and enjoy yourself.
4. The people (and dogs!) you meet. There were lots of people out today - mostly hikers, and some mountain bikers. Several people had their dogs with them. There was one woman who had a lab (I love labs, I think they're great dogs), and Sean and I had an opportunity to talk with her and play with her dog. It's always nice to meet other people who share your values, whether you're an environmentalist or not, I think all hikers feel a need to connect to nature, and that creates an immediate bond.
So get out there! With summer coming, the daylight is lasting longer and longer, which is excellent for hikers. And right now the temperature is not too hot, but also not too cold (however, higher elevations still have snow, so if you're in the Reno area, you'll probably want to wait a few weeks before heading up to Tahoe to hike).
In addition to hiking, I went for a short run (about a mile) this morning and then did an abs and arms workout. Tomorrow I'm planning a three mile run, so we'll see how that goes. My first 5k is less than two weeks away!
What are some of your favorite hikes?
The hike lasted for about an hour and a half (not including a half-hour stop for food, water, and rest), and I'm guessing we covered three or four miles. It was a nice relaxing hike, which was nice. It also felt great to spend some quality time with Sean - he's been so busy with school lately, it feels like we've hardly seen each other.
So, here are some reasons I love hiking:
1. The Great Outdoors. I just love being outdoors. The shining sun, the sound of the creek, birds chirping...it's all so miraculous. I think that our modern lives are somewhat disconnected from nature, and that's just not right. It's not natural for humans to sit inside an office all day and in a home all night. We evolved to be outside during the daytime (except during periods of intense heat), and it feels good to get outside and explore.
2. You never know what you're going to see. I've liked hiking since before I can remember. One day, when I was 3 or 4, I saw a fawn while on a hike with my mother (the fawn was alone; I think her mother was getting her food). I don't remember this, but it's one of my mom's favorite stories, and a good life lesson: always keep an eye out for wildlife, because you might see something amazing!
3. Clearing your mind. Hiking, walking, running - basically anything where you're using your legs to propel yourself - is excellent for clearing the mind. Sometimes I can think about things from a different perspective, and it helps to solve problems or reduce the chatter in my mind. It's also a good opportunity to reconnect with someone you care about, because it's almost like a mini-vacation. You don't have any worries or cares, so you're able to relax and enjoy yourself.
4. The people (and dogs!) you meet. There were lots of people out today - mostly hikers, and some mountain bikers. Several people had their dogs with them. There was one woman who had a lab (I love labs, I think they're great dogs), and Sean and I had an opportunity to talk with her and play with her dog. It's always nice to meet other people who share your values, whether you're an environmentalist or not, I think all hikers feel a need to connect to nature, and that creates an immediate bond.
So get out there! With summer coming, the daylight is lasting longer and longer, which is excellent for hikers. And right now the temperature is not too hot, but also not too cold (however, higher elevations still have snow, so if you're in the Reno area, you'll probably want to wait a few weeks before heading up to Tahoe to hike).
In addition to hiking, I went for a short run (about a mile) this morning and then did an abs and arms workout. Tomorrow I'm planning a three mile run, so we'll see how that goes. My first 5k is less than two weeks away!
What are some of your favorite hikes?
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Goals
In my previous post, I mentioned why I want to get in shape. Now I want to share my goals to hold myself accountable for the next six weeks.
1. Run a 5k - I'm registered for the Rockin' River 5k on May 6. I'm looking forward to it. I might not be able to run the whole way, but the important thing is that I'm doing it. I'm planning another 5k in July, followed by two 10ks, one in July and one in August. I'm using Google Calendar to plan out my runs for the next six weeks, using a 5k plan that I found in Women's Running magazine.
2. Attend all Kaia classes - Starting on Monday, Kaia meets 5 days a week at 6 a.m. Getting out of bed will be difficult, but I have support. Sean's aware of my goals and will wake me up if he needs to (at least, if he's awake). I also have a couple phone numbers of girls in the Kaia class, so we can text in the morning to make sure we all get out of bed. I also am using a three-pronged approach: I have my alarm clock, my cell phone alarm, and the alarm on my watch all set to go off at 5 a.m. That will give me time to get something to eat before class.
3. Attend 2 yoga classes a week - I will be going to yoga on Wednesday or Thursday evenings depending on my schedule (it varies from week to week depending on my volunteer activities), and on Sunday mornings (if I can't make the Sunday morning class, I'll go on Saturday instead). Yoga is an excellent tool for getting in shape, and even if I just did this, I'm pretty sure that I'd have a body to be proud of after six weeks.
4. Eat healthy whenever possible. I will allow myself one "splurge" meal on weekends; otherwise I will do my best to eat whole, unprocessed foods. I have a book of smoothie recipes, and usually the smoothies have a good balance of carbs and protein to make a complete meal by themselves. That's a fairly easy and tasty meal. I also have the cookbook from Kaia that has suggestions for meals.
I know that this all sounds very ambitious, and there may be times when I screw up or when it's difficult to follow these plans. It's okay to make a mistake, as long as I can get back on track. Just yesterday, Sean wanted to go out to dinner. I thought it would be nice, but we couldn't agree on where to go - there aren't many options for healthy food when eating out. Does anyone have any suggestions for restaurants that offer healthy food? I know the Olive Garden has some decent entrees, but their desserts and breadsticks are hard to pass up! Any suggestions would be appreciated - thanks!
1. Run a 5k - I'm registered for the Rockin' River 5k on May 6. I'm looking forward to it. I might not be able to run the whole way, but the important thing is that I'm doing it. I'm planning another 5k in July, followed by two 10ks, one in July and one in August. I'm using Google Calendar to plan out my runs for the next six weeks, using a 5k plan that I found in Women's Running magazine.
2. Attend all Kaia classes - Starting on Monday, Kaia meets 5 days a week at 6 a.m. Getting out of bed will be difficult, but I have support. Sean's aware of my goals and will wake me up if he needs to (at least, if he's awake). I also have a couple phone numbers of girls in the Kaia class, so we can text in the morning to make sure we all get out of bed. I also am using a three-pronged approach: I have my alarm clock, my cell phone alarm, and the alarm on my watch all set to go off at 5 a.m. That will give me time to get something to eat before class.
3. Attend 2 yoga classes a week - I will be going to yoga on Wednesday or Thursday evenings depending on my schedule (it varies from week to week depending on my volunteer activities), and on Sunday mornings (if I can't make the Sunday morning class, I'll go on Saturday instead). Yoga is an excellent tool for getting in shape, and even if I just did this, I'm pretty sure that I'd have a body to be proud of after six weeks.
4. Eat healthy whenever possible. I will allow myself one "splurge" meal on weekends; otherwise I will do my best to eat whole, unprocessed foods. I have a book of smoothie recipes, and usually the smoothies have a good balance of carbs and protein to make a complete meal by themselves. That's a fairly easy and tasty meal. I also have the cookbook from Kaia that has suggestions for meals.
I know that this all sounds very ambitious, and there may be times when I screw up or when it's difficult to follow these plans. It's okay to make a mistake, as long as I can get back on track. Just yesterday, Sean wanted to go out to dinner. I thought it would be nice, but we couldn't agree on where to go - there aren't many options for healthy food when eating out. Does anyone have any suggestions for restaurants that offer healthy food? I know the Olive Garden has some decent entrees, but their desserts and breadsticks are hard to pass up! Any suggestions would be appreciated - thanks!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Why I Want to be Fit
Over the next six weeks, I'm going to face a lot of challenges. There will be times when I won't want to get up to work out at 6 a.m. There will be days when I won't feel like running, or even going for a walk. So, the question is how I am going to get through these challenges. One strategy is to remind myself of the reasons why fitness is important to me.
1. I want to enjoy life and all that it has to offer. Being fit will allow me to go on more challenging hikes, do more outdoor running, get better at kayaking, become more flexible in yoga, and may open up avenues to new adventures. I love being outdoors and all the possibilities that nature holds.
2. I want to feel good about myself. I want to feel like I can accomplish something - whether it's running my first 5k (next Sunday) or being able to do 15 push-ups (real push-ups, not on the knees). I also want to like what I see when I look in the mirror. I want to be comfortable in my own body.
3. Being fit will give me more energy. I've noticed that when I work out, I have much more energy throughout the day than when I don't. And when I have more energy, I'm also more motivated to work out.
4. Ask myself, "How will I feel after I work out? How will I feel if I skip my workout?" Most of the time, the answer is that I'll feel much better after working out.
I will also check in daily here and on Facebook to let others know what I'm up to. My plan is to go to Kaia classes 5 days a week, yoga classes 2 days a week, and run and/or walk at least three days a week. I know this sounds ambitious, but I have the time right now to improve myself, and I don't know when an opportunity like this will come again.
1. I want to enjoy life and all that it has to offer. Being fit will allow me to go on more challenging hikes, do more outdoor running, get better at kayaking, become more flexible in yoga, and may open up avenues to new adventures. I love being outdoors and all the possibilities that nature holds.
2. I want to feel good about myself. I want to feel like I can accomplish something - whether it's running my first 5k (next Sunday) or being able to do 15 push-ups (real push-ups, not on the knees). I also want to like what I see when I look in the mirror. I want to be comfortable in my own body.
3. Being fit will give me more energy. I've noticed that when I work out, I have much more energy throughout the day than when I don't. And when I have more energy, I'm also more motivated to work out.
4. Ask myself, "How will I feel after I work out? How will I feel if I skip my workout?" Most of the time, the answer is that I'll feel much better after working out.
I will also check in daily here and on Facebook to let others know what I'm up to. My plan is to go to Kaia classes 5 days a week, yoga classes 2 days a week, and run and/or walk at least three days a week. I know this sounds ambitious, but I have the time right now to improve myself, and I don't know when an opportunity like this will come again.
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