Thinking

I've had a lot on my mind for the last couple of days. Today, I discovered that, while running is completely compatible with thinking about all sorts of things at the same time, Turbo Kick is not! I kept getting lost in the routine because I couldn't stop thinking and focus on what I was supposed to be doing! Whoops. I got through it, though, and still managed to get a good workout, so that's the most important thing. Hopefully I'll be able to quiet my mind and sleep tonight...might have some interesting dreams.

Sandy shoes

I did my run today on the beach, which was wonderful in many ways. It was a beautiful day, and I thoroughly enjoyed the gorgeous view of the ocean and dunes. I was nearly alone on the beach, and the simple peace and quietness of that was lovely. Also, the sound of the ocean providing a backdrop to the music from my iPhone added a calming element.

Running on the beach was also different in some ways. The headwind certainly made the actual running (at least the first half!) harder than usual. But the biggest difference was, of course, running on sand. I think I will probably not fully understand that difference until tomorrow morning, when I discover that different muscles than usual are achy. Guess we'll see.

8!

No, I didn't run for eight minutes again today. (I ran for 25 minutes today.) I went to a party tonight in a clingy purple dress. I have worn it before, but it has been quite a while since the last time, and I have never previously looked as good in it as I did tonight, a fact about which I feel pretty fabulous. When I got home tonight and took it off, I looked at the label to check on how to launder it (hand wash ... ugh), and saw that it is a size eight! It has been a long time since I felt great about the way I look in clothing that is size eight. Yay.

Changing size

Tonight, as I was bent over to comb through my hair (I have pretty long hair), I noticed my thighs. Normally, I don't like to notice my thighs. I much prefer to ignore them. But tonight, it was a good thing. They are smaller than they used to be!

Different route

I ran a different route today than I have been doing for the last few days. (Yes, for those of you keeping track, I no longer run just on the quiet back street. I've gotten used to and comfortable with the idea of possibly being seen while running.) Anyway, I have, as I mentioned previously, been running into the Oyster Creek area of the village, where I can see lovely views of the Sound. Today, I turned the opposite way when I reached the end of Sunset/Firehouse/Ammunition Dump Rd (what you call it seems to depend on how long you've lived here), and headed toward Jackson Dunes. I enjoyed the view there, too, of the salt marsh and tall sea oats. I also saw several feral cats who live in that area. I adore cats, so I enjoyed seeing them even though they merely watched me impassively as I went by.

I am blessed to get to live (and run) in such a beautiful place, but I think that if you look for it, you can find beauty wherever you are. Especially if you take a different route than usual. Sometimes getting out of the ruts we fall into can open our eyes to see things in new ways.

Side effects

It seems like so many things in life have side effects - other consequences which are additional or unexpected. My running outside is a good example. I assumed that it would have the consequences/results of making me fitter and possibly inducing weight loss, and it has done (and is doing) both. I didn't expect the other results of feeling better (emotionally and mentally, not just physically), but I'll take them!

After my run today, I am experiencing another unexpected side effect, one I would prefer not to have: the sniffles. The pollen count in my area has suddenly gone up (I assume as a result of the recent warm weather, but I don't know for sure that's the reason). Spending time outdoors, therefore, has resulted in a mild allergic reaction. Not that I'm going to let that stop me from doing it again tomorrow. Having a sniffle isn't an excuse, just a blog topic.

Odd

I went for a run today, after having not run for the last couple of days. (I didn't skip exercise entirely the last couple of days - I just didn't run.) Anyway, I discovered something odd (for me, at least). I had actually missed running. I mean, not just missed in the sense of "didn't do it", but missed it in the sense of "wish you were here" missing. Am I making sense?

At least part of the reason I enjoy running is that I live in an amazingly beautiful place. Recently, I've been running into an area of the village where I can see the Pamlico Sound, and if there's any single thing I need to do every day to keep my spirits up (other than get outside) it's see salt water. (Good thing I live on an island, huh?)

Anyway, this is definitely odd for me. Exercise is not something I ever expected to miss.

Exercise epiphany

We've just started a new round at Turbo Kick class, and it is a tough one. It's very aerobic and that fact, combined with the fact that it's so warm in the gym, led to a rather sweaty workout. We had both gym doors open, but that didn't help much. During a short break between songs, I stepped outside and asked God if He wouldn't mind sending a breeze through the doorway every now and then. Then I headed back in to sweat some more.

So what happened with the breeze? Well, occasionally, it came through the door, but to truly be cooled by it, I had to walk over to the doorway and stand in the opening, which I did several times. One of those times, I had a minor epiphany: God will answer our prayers, but sometimes we need to move toward Him in order to receive those answers.

It still amazes me how many areas of my life (mental, emotional, spiritual) have been changed (for the better) by my choice to take better care of my physical body. The only response I can think of to this truth is the same one I offered up each time the lovely breeze cooled my sweaty self: "Thank You, Lord".

Attitude improvement

Life is hard. It has been especially hard for me recently. I spent much of the last few years fluctuating between actively suicidal, hopelessly despairing, and merely depressed. On my worst days, I thought about killing myself. On my better days, I thought I wouldn't kill myself, but it would be okay if I died of something else.

Then, I realized that I wanted to live to dance with Connor at his wedding. It was a start, but a part of me realized that it was dangerous to put all my "yes, I want to stay on the planet" eggs in a human basket. What if Connor never gets married? What if - heaven forbid - something happens to him?

Then, one November Sunday morning, I sat weeping in church because it was All Saint's Day, when we remember and light candles for all those in our community who have died over the last year. I was thinking of a specific person and grieving her loss. I was remembering one of the things that was said at her funeral service, which was "be better because you knew her". I was remembering how deeply that statement had affected me, and wondering how I could be better. Then, Pastor Laura said, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (That's Hebrews 12: 1- 2, by the way.)

And suddenly it hit me: the way to "be better", to honor my friend who had died, was to LIVE. With her as one of the witnesses who surrounds me, I will run the race God has marked out for me, allowing Him and only Him to decide when the race is finished. When life is hard, I will fix my eyes on Him.

So what the heck does this have to do with the topic of this Princess blog? Well, I've found that having a mental realization that I want to live was only the first part of what I needed. Having a real, tangible goal to work toward was the next part. An awesome side effect of my particular goal is that I've discovered that daily exercise improves my mental outlook and attitude. And I love the fact that working toward my goal literally involves running with perseverance.

I did it, I did it, I did it!

If you live here, and you see me outside grinning from ear to ear, or perhaps even jumping up and down for a few seconds, or pumping a fist in the air, you can reasonably assume that I've just completed the next level of my training plan. Today, it was my friend Phyllis who saw me, smiling hugely and saying "I did it, I did it, I did it!" to no one other than myself, as she drove by me. I had just finished running non stop for 20 minutes. Woo hoo!

Chafing

I used to be one of those people who thought that running or biking in skin tight shorts was ... well, I don't know. Strange. Awkward looking. Surely uncomfortable. I thought spending high amounts on specific "running" clothes was ridiculous. Not any more.

I've learned that loose clothes that are not specifically made for exercise have seams in them. Seams you would never notice while just wearing said clothes. But go run for a while and you'll discover just exactly where those seams are, after they rub against the same spots on your body repeatedly for the entire time. I'm not yet running for long periods of time and I noticed the other day that the seam in my shirt had created an irritated spot. So now I get it. I understand the reason for tighter fitting running clothes, or loose ones without seams. I may now need to go buy some!

Calf muscles

I've discovered that different calf muscles are used for running than for walking. I learned this yesterday, when I switched from running (after completing my first 8 minutes) back to walking and it was a whole different kind of feeling (read: pain in different places).

Not that it's major pain or anything (don't want you to worry that I'm hurting myself). It's just that I'm working muscles which haven't been worked this much in years, and they are not always thrilled about said work. They are, however, feeling (and looking!) much better than when I started doing the training plan. Yay, progress!

Speaking of progress, I haven't done a numbers update in a while, so...
I've lost around 10 pounds and am about 4% of the way to my goal.

8!

No, that's not how old I was 30 years ago. Well, yes, it is, but that's not why it's the title of this post. That's how long I ran today. No, not miles. Minutes. Keep in mind that I was pretty much a couch potato at the beginning of the year, so running for 8 minutes at a stretch is an accomplishment for me. But I did it. Twice, actually!

Outside

I think one of the reasons I continue to enjoy and be motivated to do my workouts is because it ensures I get outside for a stretch of time every day during which I am not running errands and therefore only outside for short periods. The weather has been really great recently - sunny with clear skies. I love looking up at the sky when I'm outside, both during the day and at night. The last couple of days, the moon has been clearly visible even during the day, which I always like. It's good to get outside and enjoy God's creation every day!

Be your own Valentine

A friend of mine recently posted a photograph on Facebook of the inside of the wrapper from the Dove chocolate she had just eaten. If you haven't had one of those and you don't know, they have sweet sayings on the inside. The one she posted said "Be your own Valentine!" I loved it.

I made sure to do my workout today (number 1 of week 5!) because it's a way of loving and taking care of myself. I also was blessed by the fact that it was an absolutely beautiful day, which reminded me that I am deeply loved by the Creator of the universe, too.

I did go out to dinner with my Valentines (John and Connor), and have my splurge meal of the week, including dessert. Treating yourself to yummy, fattening food (now and then, not every day!) is a great way of being your own Valentine, too. :)

Stretching

So I know how important it is to stretch, and I do so...except when I stop and talk to a friend at the end of my workout, and then forget to stretch when I get home. Ooops. My muscles are tight in the mornings for a few seconds after I get out of bed anyway, because I'm finding muscles that I had forgotten I had! But the morning after forgetting to stretch was a bit worse! Whoops. Hopefully I won't do that again!

I completed week four of the training program, and am on to week five next week. I just looked at week five and discovered that it starts out not too much different than what I've been doing, but then ramps up pretty quickly to running for a 20 minute stretch. Hmmm. I hereby choose to trust the program, and believe that I can do it!

Laundry

So...something I hadn't thought of when deciding to exercise daily (or close to it) was that doing so would generate a decent amount of laundry. I'm a lazy bum when it comes to household chores like laundry, and I have lots of clothes, so I probably don't do laundry as often as most people. Well, I should say "didn't" do laundry as often as most people. I guess I do now...because when you only have about a week's worth (6 or so) of exercise clothing, and you wear (and get sweaty in) one almost every day, you have to do laundry once a week (at least).

I also had to buy new items of clothing - more sports bras (I previously had none), more socks (I only had 3 pairs...I don't usually wear sneakers so I didn't need socks very often) and good shoes.

I am enjoying becoming a different person than I have previously been. Well, maybe except for the part where the laundry has to be done more often!

Shower at night

In a nod to doing what works for me, rather than following conventional wisdom, I have recently found myself taking showers at night, sometimes even right before bed. (Usually, this is because I've exercised in the early evening but then got pulled into dinner, Connor's bedtime, etc. before I could squeeze in a few minutes for a shower.) Anyway, I've found that showering late doesn't leave me wide awake and unable to relax. Quite the opposite - I feel all warm and snuggly, and am quite ready to snooze for the evening! I also think I sleep better as a result of getting exercise on most days. (Not that I slept poorly before - I've always slept well enough, it's just even better now.) It reminds me to keep things in balance - to make sure I get not only enough activity every day, but also enough rest!

38

That's how old I am. (At least until my birthday this year!) It's also the number of crunches I've decided to do every day. Yes, I'll increase it to 39 on my birthday. Of course, at some point, as I get older, I suppose I might not be able to continue the annual increases. My theory is that at that point, I'll start decreasing by one for every year...cut myself some slack, since I'll be OLD. But I figure it will be a while (at least 10 - 15 years) before I have to worry about that.

GOAL!

I wish there was a way to add sound to a blog post, so you could read that as "gooooooooooal"! (You know, the way they say it during soccer games.) Anyway, no, I have not met my ultimate goal. That's still a long way away, but I'm making daily progress and am happy about that. But I have met an initial goal, and that was exciting.

Although weight loss is not the actual/final goal, it is happening and I expect will continue to happen as I train for the goal and become fitter in general. (And yes, I'm also eating less and healthier as well, which of course helps too.) Anyway, I set an initial weight loss goal with a target timeframe of the end of February for meeting it. I entered the goal into my Wii Fit Plus tracking, and this morning it told me that I'd reached it. Woo hoo!

So what did I do to celebrate? Promptly set a new goal, ate healthy all day, and did workout two of week four. Oh, don't worry...I know how to really celebrate, and I'm definitely planning to give myself little rewards along the way to the ultimate goal...and a big ol' celebration when I reach it!

Training program

I haven't mentioned the training program I'm following specifically recently, so here's a quick update. I just started week four (did workout one today). I ended up doing both weeks one and three twice. Remember I mentioned being nervous about week three since the length of time spent running doubled, but then I made it through and felt good about it? Same thing today with week four - only the length didn't double (increased by 66% or so instead). Again, I was nervous. Again, I pressed on and finished. Again, I felt good about it.

I also had to laugh at myself. When will I learn to trust that the people who develop these training programs know what they are talking about and most likely won't ramp them up too quickly (or more quickly than the average, basically healthy person can handle)? When will I learn, just in general, to trust more and worry less?

Routine...and update

I realized a couple of minutes ago that I didn't really have anything new to say about exercising today. But that's a good thing, because it means that it is becoming a routine (i.e. normal) part of my day. Yay!

Latest update: I've lost 6.9 pounds so far. Another yay!

Motivation

I had planned to do a workout today after putting Connor down for a nap, but while reading him a book before his nap I discovered that I needed a nap of my own! So I went and took one. It was lovely. I adore Sunday afternoon naps. I told myself that I would exercise after my nap.

Well, you know how naps go. They are so relaxing. Especially when it's winter and chilly outside, it's wonderful to snuggle down under the covers and just stay there. I didn't, though. I managed to drag myself out of the warm fuzziness. I also, however, talked myself out of exercising. I thought it was cold, I have a bit of a sore throat, etc, etc. (You probably know how that making excuses routine goes.)

I was sitting in the living room when I saw a friend and her fiance walk by. They weren't walking for exercise, they were walking her dog. But seeing them motivated me to get up and get out there. (It was probably because I saw that they weren't bundled up in coats, so I had to admit that it wasn't cold outside after all.) So I went, and I was glad I did. It was a bit of an odd source of motivation, I'll admit...but I'll take it no matter where it comes from!

I may need...

...a treadmill, if it doesn't stop raining! I certainly can (and have) done my workouts outside in the rain, but definitely didn't want to today since I have a cold already. Plus, because it has been raining almost non stop for two days, there are large puddles I would have to avoid. I did a bunch of training with my wii fit this morning, though, so I did get some exercise. And I'm just kidding on the treadmill. I really prefer to exercise outside - it lifts my spirits to get out for a while, even if the weather is not perfect.

Sick and tired

No, I'm not "sick and tired" of exercise (or of anything that I can think of offhand). I'm sick (got a head cold) and tired (it was a long week). So today was my day off from my exercise routine. Hopefully I'll get a good night's rest. I'll be back at it tomorrow!

Now I can

Today, during Turbo Kick, I bent over and touched the floor. My palms were flat on the floor. This was a very exciting surprise for me, because it wasn't that long ago that I wasn't flexible enough to reach the floor when bending over! (Well, on a good day I could just barely brush it with my fingertips.)

I am enjoying how things are connected in terms of fitness. Multiple things seem to be improving in concert with one another. I am stronger, lighter, and more flexible than I was at the beginning of the year! I am also happier, which is a nice side benefit.

Encouragement

I was running yesterday when a friend drove by. I waved, and then she rolled her window down and called out to me: "Go girl!" I really appreciated the encouragement!

Multiple choice

I "check in" on my Wii every day. (Side note: yes, I know the conventional wisdom says not to weigh every day. I have found that it works for me, and it actually doesn't bother me all that much that there are little fluctuations, as long as the general trend is downward. The Wii does a good job of showing the general trend on a nice little graph. Since my actual goal isn't weight loss, I'm not obsessive about the number anyway. Plus, I have recently come to a place where I respect and honor myself enough to do things the way I've discovered they work for me, regardless of what conventional wisdom says. Okay, end (rather lengthy) side note.)

So sometimes my weight will be a bit higher on a given day than it was on the previous day. Some of the times (but not every time) that this happens, the Wii fit "trainer" will ask me to consider the possible cause of the gain. It gives me a multiple choice list.

My problem is that the three choices I have legitimately thought were the reason aren't on the list of options:
- I'm gaining muscle mass
- I'm weighing in at a different time of day (rare, because most days I weigh around the same time - first thing in the morning)
- I'm a girl and it's that time of the month!

Someone really should update that list.