Saturday, June 19, 2010

Healthy... maybe a little?

Here is a quick update on my day one...

So lunch I had a turkey/ham/fat free cheese sandwhich on some yummy whole grain bread with olive oil mayo and spicy mustard. Water!!
I sat outside in the hot while my kiddos swam, chugging my water, and sweating off what felt like ten pounds!
I came home, with a really bad headache (due to LACK of caffeine!!) and some bad shin splints!! I decided to take it easy, and rest. I just felt really bad. SO the resistance bands will wait until Monday. Justin and I went to eat at Chili's, and I had a grilled chicken sandwhich on a wheat bun; it had lettuce and tomato and some honey mustard on it. I ended up with half the bun or maybe 3/4 of the bun on the plate, because the bun was ten times bigger than the chicken lol. I ate about ten of my french fries, and had a margarita. We had a great night, but we always do. Justin is such an encouragement to me! We were talking about my ultimate goal of running a full marathon, and he was excited for me. He said "If you get to the point of running 26 miles, I will run a little too." So we'll see!

Today--Saturday--I woke up in PAIN! My shins are killing me. I talked to my personal doctor (Amy!! :D ) and she sent me a video of some exercises to do to strengthen those front muscles. She told me that shin splints are often a result of weak muscles in the front of your lower leg, or sometimes from overstepping as you run. Here is a great website I found that explains causes of and treatment of "shin splints" http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_5/196.shtml So, today my legs get a needed rest. I am planning on doing some arms/upper body today. Still have a headache today, so I gave in and drank some Milo's tea. I ate a whole grain lean pocket, and had a chocolate chip cookie :D

I am supposed to go to the movies tonight with Justin, and we'll probably go eat too. I usually do pretty good when we eat out, and I'm not big on buying candy or drinks at the movies so no problem there. I wish it was prettier outside or I had a treadmill, and I'd go walk with my wrist weights. Probably better that I don't do anything with my legs lol.

So far, I'm doing ok. Just sore shins! That's all for now friends... be healthy-body mind and soul.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Healthy... I think not!

Well, I started the the attempt at working out and being healthier today... I had mentioned it on Facebook some this week... So here is how it all went down.

Originally, I wanted to do p90x. However, after talking with some friends (Heather, Alicia, my cousins Amy and Brandi) I decided that was not a good idea--at least not full out p90x yet. I had back surgery to correct scoliosis when I was 15, and that significantly inhibits my flexibility and also causes some issues with any kind of motion that "jars" your body. So, that means p90x is not for me. Moving on to other options...

I looked at some pilates and yoga videos on YouTube... VOMIT!! Slow, soothing, sleepy music for the background, and breathy, deep voiced women as instructors. HELLO?!?!?? I want to MOVE and DO something, not fall asleep people? I need excitement energy motivation!! I am also not 90. Maybe I should explain why I want to do this in the first place...

I am taking 18 hours of grad school this summer, and will be taking 12 in the fall. I am studying Community Agency Counseling, and they keep telling us how important it is to "take care of your mental and physical health" because we are going to "have the wellbeing of other people in our hands." I agree, and I also realize how tense and stressed I constantly am. I have headaches all the time, I don't sleep well, and I just don't "feel" healthy. I keep getting those comments--"You look great! You don't need to lose weight!" Here is the thing, froo froo friends, you can look healthy and not be healthy. You can be a healthy weight, and have CRAZY high cholesterol. Or be at risk for other illnesses just because of those things called genes! (That also goes for emotional health!! You can appear healthy, and not be!) So the purpose of this venture into fitness and wellness (wellness meaning my overall health--body, soul, and mind) is to actually become and BE healthy.

After research, and reading, and talking to fitness/health minded friends, I decided to start a running/walking regimen and do some resistance training. I checked out this webpage upon the recommendation of my INSANELY fit cousin, Brandi (runs marathons like they're a leisurely walk in the park!) www.halhigdon.com It outlines all different training schedules for all levels of ability and interest in walking/running for fun and health. I read a lot, and decided to start out on the Novice 5k training plan. It is an 8 week plan, and it tells you what to do everyday.

I got a GoFit.Net Pro Gym In A Bag to use for my resistance training. It goes up to 50 pounds per side so that should be PLENTY for me. I bought some new legit training/running shoes and a mio heart rate monitoring watch. The shoes were from Target, and I added in some arch supports for my ridiculously high arches. The watch does it all--I can even track my calorie intake on it! Too bad it cannot work out for me :(

So today, I started with being at the track at the Hewitt Trussville Football stadium at 6:45 am. I ate a Quaker Granola Bar in the car on the way, and had my nalgene bottle loaded with ice and a little water (It quickly turned to mostly water! Already mid 70's at that point in the day!) (Check out my food diary here: http://www.livestrong.com/profile/whitnelisabeth/ ) I had hoped to do a mile and a half--running the mile walking the two quarters at the start and finish. HA! I am in worse shape than I thought! I told you guys you can look good, and not BE healthy! Sooo... I walked 5 laps, and ran one in the middle. That took about 20 minutes. Pathetic. But I just started, and I will get there.

When I got home, I had whole grain cheese toast (fat free cheese, and the bread was that yummy kind with the bits and pieces of grain in it!) and one totally straight up scrambled egg with some pepper. I didn't add milk or cheese or anything to it. And I've had what feels like a gallon of water since I woke up.

After work (Oh, yeah, I'm nannying again! ;D )I'll do the Resistance bands training. Hopefully I don't pop myself in the face or anything! If y'all see me with a black eye, you'll know why!

I'll be updating my food diary throughout the day, actually I'm probably about to eat something else... I'm really hungry! Apple anyone???

So to sum it all up, here is a list of short term goals...

1. RUN a mile without feeling like I'm gonna puke.
2. Continue to eat healthy, watching my calories and cholesterol!
3. Drink NOTHING but water (and the occasional Margarita!! Come on, it is summertime!)
4. Be consistent, alternating running/walking with resistance training, doing something active six days a week.
5. Continue to monitor my heart rate (I freak out and let it get TOO high just over silly stuff!)

Here are my initial thoughts on long term goals...
1. Train for and run a REAL marathon (Amy, Brandi, when is the next Country Music Marathon??)
2. Lose the pudgy and tone up my entire body (think Sheryl Crowe and Jennifer Anniston!)
3. Improve my total health (no more headaches, sleeping through the night, no more tummy trouble)

So here are some numbers to wrap up today's blog... heart rate as I sit here, 81. BMI 21.9, target heart rate (the lowest of the range) is 136. I weigh around 120 (cannot find a scale anywhere!!) and I'm 5'2" and wear around a 2 or 4 in misses. SO that is where I am today... I'll update numbers every two weeks??? Pray for me! :D