WELCOME TO MY BLOG

You may be wondering why I decided on the title I chose. Well about 2 months ago I decided to become a runner. I am a very slow runner, otherwise known in the running world as a turtle. I am determined to become faster and maybe someday become a racer. Therefore, I chose breaks out of her shell. Join me on my journey. As this turtle breaks out of her shell.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

My embarrassing and annoying problem

     Today, I just wanted to vent about my annoying and embarrassing problem. My spare tire or as a I like to call it a menopot.
This is not me but this is how I feel.


Apparently, around age 40 this lovely phenomenon starts showing up. Ok, so let me get this straight not only do I have to deal with sagging skin but also a lovely thing called a menopot. Oh, the joys of aging.
I guess this is how I am starting to look to people (LOL).

I'm so happy to be droopy with a menopot.

So I figured ok, I can once again start self-hating, or I can do something about it. 
So I can go from this 

To this.

    I started doing a little research and found out some interesting things that I need to improve on to help  myself.  First of course, you have to change the way your eating. You should get plenty of healthy fats, such as Olive, Canola, Peanut oils and Avocados. You should also increase your Calcium intake. Also, eat as much whole foods as possible. This would mean increasing the fruits and vegetables you eat. Increasing how much water you drink, and decreasing the amount of soda intake. Secondly, doing a combination of  Cardio, Weights, and Core training, such as Pilates or Yoga. Adding some good AB exercises, such as bicycles, good old fashioned crunches, and if you have a exercise ball using that. The research I did suggested laying with the middle part of your back on the ball and pulling your hips up toward the ceiling. And, lastly getting between 7-8 hours of sleep a night. 

    After, researching I realized that there are a lot of things I am doing right, but there also a lot things I need to improve on. I am following the right path by doing a combo of Cardio and Weights. But I do need to add some more Core training. Also, I need to add some more healthy fats to my diet. Well, I am off to try some of these suggestions. If anybody out there has some suggestions for me, feel free to comment. I would really appreciate it!!

   
    
   

     
























Friday, March 30, 2012

Life Changes and Murphy's Law

I am sorry it has been so long since I've blogged. But my life is a-changing(not a real word one of my own :) ) !!! I have now officially become a taxi driving mom.


 My record holding power-lifter has gotten a job!!! It is his first job and I have to admit I have been impressed with his work ethic. He will be working at a frozen yogurt shop (hmmm I wonder if they give discounts to taxi driving mom's?). It is a brand new shop, so the owner has been using his (Luke's not the owner's) big muscles to set the shop up. I am so prooud of him!! The diva has been working for a-while now as an after-school teacher for the YMCA. She is also really good at her job, and she works hard with the kids she watches. She also has taken up running, her goal is to run the Disney princess half-marathon. I am proud of her commitment.And then the princess has started playing softball. So I have been pretty much living in my car, and trying to juggle this new crazy schedule.

     Despite these new changes, I still have been working out and running. My running has been going okay. I am not pleased with the way my endurance has been. It seems like I am not improving. The hubby said that it probably is because I am over-thinking it. I believe it, because there is a lot of thinking going on when you are running. And I have a tendency to really doubt myself. But still I like to remind myself that at least I am running and working on improving. Which brings me to another subject. Lately, I have noticed a change in the way I think about exercising. Before all I thought about was how many calories do I have to burn today to lose this amount of weight? Instead my focus has changed to how far can I run today? or How much time can I finish a 3 mile run in? I love this change in thinking because no longer is it about the weight but it is more about how much stronger I feel after each workout. It is incredible!!! 

     Lastly, I wanted to share this funny tidbit I found on one of the blogs I read. I thought it was hilarious and so fitting for a new runner like me.



  

Saturday, March 17, 2012

St.Patty's Day, Green Ketchup, and Luke

First off let me say Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! 

 

  Today, I celebrated St. Patty's Day with a handsome red head and FREE FRIES WITH GREEN KETCHUP!!! I took the computer genius out to Burger King because it was free fries all day !!! He had been waiting and talking about it for a week.  The green ketchup looked gross, but tasted just like ketchup. The bad thing was it dyed anything it touched green, I wondered what it did to our insides? Oh, well I think it will be okay for one day.

      In running news, my runs keep getting stronger and faster. Yesterday, I dreaded it all day to the point that I told the hubby, "forget it I'm just not going today!!" Wonderful, encouraging husband, that he is, he ended up talking me into it. I got on the treadmill and once I started going I felt great!!! I felt one with the run (so to speak). 



I really am starting to feel like this after a run!!


     I also have had a good week with strength training. When, I first started squats, I could not learn the proper form. I thought I knew how to do squats, but let's just say I didn't know squat about squats (no pun intended :)) But lately, I have been getting stronger in that area too. I think I have said in the past that my strength trainer, is a world record holding power lifter AKA my son Luke. 


Yep, folks he can really lift this much!!!

But there is another reason this mom is so proud of him. He recently lost almost 30 pounds and he has joined his mom and dad running!!! He is a natural athlete, so running is coming easy to him. As I said in my previous post, it is so important as well as fun to make your children part of your fitness program. As many of you have read in recent reports, so many children and teens are overweight,  becoming diabetics, have high blood pressure, and many other health issues. When kids see their parents enjoying a healthy lifestyle,they want to do it too!! We never pressured Luke in anything he chose to do. My husband has been power-lifting since he was a teenager. And he gradually helped Luke along. We are very proud of the things Luke has accomplished, but if he decided he didn't want to do this anymore, that would be okay too. He is very good at training me as well. He loves to switch up my strength training. It is never boring when I train with Luke.

     Well, I hope everyone enjoys their St. Patrick's Day!! And if you get a chance go by Burger King, and get some free fries and green ketchup!! You won't be sorry.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

The blog post I needed!! And a great giveaway you need to know about!!!

I know, I know I already posted today. But when I came across this blog post by Too Tall Fritz: I just had to post it. I fell in love with it!!! It was brilliant!! Here is the link: http://tootallfritz.com/2012/03/08/dont-count-yourself-out/.There are a lot of my friends, and other people out there who are struggling with their weight loss and fitness journey. I should know, I have been struggling quite awhile with this myself. But if anybody read some of my past post recently. You can see how great a challenge it is just to overcome the voices in your own head. She covers this and so much more in this post. So I would like to say Thank You Too Tall Fritz for writing this wonderful post. And just when I needed it the most too!!! Also Too Tall Fritz is giving everyone a chance to win a great pair of Aspaeirs Compression Shorts. Here is the link if you are interested in entering: http://tootallfritz.com/2012/03/13/i-won-heres-a-giveaway-aspaeris-pivot-shorts/

"Running on Sunshine"


If anyone out in blogland has been reading my blog, you know that the last few running days I've had ended up miserably. But yesterday was a totally different day. It was a lot better. I was able to run longer and even beat my time. 

I still have a lot more in common with this guy


Than with this guy!!!

 
But hey, I feel like I am making progress!!! In fact yesterday, I felt so good, I literally felt like I was "running on sunshine". I also felt a lot of improvement on my squats and dead-lifts. Each time I feel like I am stronger. It still a struggle, but in the end it feels great. 

     In other news, I have been enjoying the beautiful weather we have here. I have been doing a lot of my walking days outside. Sunday, I took Jessi and Sammy with me. I wanted to share some of the pictures we took.

Me and the famous Mr. Buddy!! 

Miss Sammy Waffles


My gorgeous diva girl Jessi!!


My two bookends!!

We had so much fun walking and enjoying the gorgeous day. My advice for anyone with teenagers or really any age, if at all possible include them in your exercise plans. It not only benefits everyone's health, it is also a fantastic time to spend quality time with them. Trust me they grow up way to fast!! It is so much fun to enjoy exercising while finding out what is going on in their lives. These are some of the best memories for me and hopefully them as well. Then today I walked my 3.1 miles with my hubby!! Another great bonding day. Well, I hope tomorrows run will go just as well as yesterdays. I will keep you posted!!


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Running Blahs!!

Yesterday, was another running day for me. I was hoping it would be better going. Sad to say, not even close. I started out strong again. I decided to start at a lower speed, so that it wouldn't be so discouraging. Sad to say, it just kept getting harder. I think the problem may be in the fact that I am trying to push it too hard, and also this keeps getting in the way.

Yep, my brain!!!! I just start thinking such negative thoughts. It goes somthing like this: "Man, I am having such a hard time breathing, I just can't finish this mile!!" or "I knew I wasn't a runner, why am I even doing this? I will never be able to run a 5k or any kind of race. Why don't you just go back to walking?" See what I mean? It's just awful. But, I will tell you this, I am determined to get over this negativity. I WANT to be a runner. I want this more than anything, I want to have medals, and wear cute running skirts. I want to become faster, and be able to run without feeling like I panting for every breath. And I know that the only way to achieve this is by giving it time.

I did pick a hard age to start running. But, I did say hard not impossible!!! I am just going to try to keep focused on my goals. And just keep working at it until it does get easier. So this is focused me signing off. Hopefully, Monday I will have a much better report to give.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Slow Going

A few days ago, I said that I would be running again Monday. I also said I would post how it went. Well, it went  HORRIBLE!!! I thought since I had taken a week off, I would be back to my old self. Well, it hasn't turned out that way. When I started my run, I felt great I ran quicker than I ever had for the first mile. Then, I slowly started to become wore down. I had to walk/ run the rest of the workout. I felt so frustrated. I wanted to scream !!!


Then today, I went back to try again. Same thing!!! I started out strong, then gradually became weaker. By the time I was finished I was exhausted. I feel like I am starting all over. I have read a lot of blogs about running and working out, and they have said that this could happen. So, I guess I will start from this point, and gradually build up again. I guess I will just listen to my body, and take the good as well as the bad. I am just thankful, I am able to run and strength train at all. I am going to work on taking this negative and turning it into a positive.





Sunday, March 4, 2012

I'm Baaaaack!!!!




I know it's been forever since I last posted. But there is a very good reason. Last Sunday, the hubby, Wesley and me caught a very nasty stomach virus. I have never been so sick in my life.

I am pretty sure this is the bug that attacked me!!! :)

Let's just say that I have whip-lash from all the volatile vomiting I did. Anyway, there was a plus side to it, I ended up losing about 3 pounds. I am just now finally feeling better. I guess I could look at it as a violent form of cleansing?? LOL. I really wanted to hold on to those 3 pounds I have lost, I decided since I "cleansed" my body of all bad toxins; I tried and  managed to stay away from sweets and have cut my intake of coffee down to 1/2 a cup a day. And the best news of all I am down another pound!!!  I am excited because I thought the scale would never budge. I love the following 2 cartoons, because most days this is how I feel.



I haven't really been exercising at all since I became sick. I thought I would give myself a week to recover. I did go to the gym, Friday and did a little weight training with Luke. But other than that, I have not been running. I think when you have been really sick, you should give yourself time to recover. Then, jump back in. I plan on going back Monday, and adding my running back in. I will let you know how it goes. Last Friday, I did my last run. I was so excited because I was really trying to up my PR.As I neared the end, I covered up the time, so that I would not get discouraged and slow down. When I reached my goal of 3.1 miles, I went to take off the towel and my treadmill cut off. I felt like Charlie Brown when the football is pulled out from under him.

As you all know (if you have checked out my blog list), I love to read blogs!! I just found a new one that I just love. http://www.runsforcookies.com She has a great story to tell. She lost over 125 pounds in 16 months. Her eating and exercise plan is very simple and straightforward. She is inspiration to anyone who is on the weight-loss journey.  Well, I hope everyone has a good Sunday afternoon.