June 2010 Recap

 JUNE 2010

RUNNING RECAP

# of runs: 19

Distance: .......... 100.0 Miles / 161 Kms
Monthly Goals:  100.0 Miles / 161 Kms

Summary: WAHOO Met my distance goal!  Started the month off slow again and didn't run much while on holiday.  But as soon as I came back I picked it up and worked out a plan to meet my goal.  I pretty much had to run every day for the last third of the month in order to meet my goal.  So, to avoid injury, I slowed down my pace.  I've stayed injury free and it was actually kind of neat to experience daily running, running on tired legs, and the mental challenge of running when I really did not feel like it.  Normally I tend to run every 2nd or 3rd day and I've always wanted to do more like 3 days on, 1 day off sort of thing.  This was a good experience to learn how to push through that mentally.

YEAR-TO-DATE

YTD Distance:  477 Miles / 767 Kms
750 mile Goal: ..370 Miles / 595 Kms
1000 mile Goal: 493 Miles / 793 Kms

As for my other goals ....

♥ Plan! Prepare! Organize! - This has gone pretty well, but I'm not doing so much pre-planning lately.  Mostly because I'm getting more used to thinking ahead and I'm pre-planning naturally and I'm not finding myself in that position of not having a clue what to cook nor having the ingredients to do so.

♥ Run a timed 5K and a timed Half Marathon - This didn't happen.  Honestly my heart just wasn't into it and I'm not going to force myself to do something I don't feel like doing.  Probably a good thing I didn't have any scheduled races.

♥ 30 Days of Activity - Did it!  Though some days were pretty lame, I did it.  I really liked this idea as it kept one missed day of activity from turning into 2 days, then 3, etc.

I haven't put much thought into my July goals yet.  I'm away for a couple days and will think about them and see what I come up with. 

Happy Canada Day

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Gone to the Beach

Bye folks ....... I've gone to the beach ......

OK, maybe not THAT beach (I wish!) .... but rather, this beach:

As I mentioned in yesterdays post, recently I've been struggling with sugar ... and coincidentally (or not)STILL struggling to get off this last bulge.  On the long drive home I made the decision to once and for all TRULY give this diet a shot.

I've thought about it before ... alot.  I've even attempted it years ago, though admittedly half-assed, and not while I was truly in a mental position to pull it off.

Last Friday (the day after we got back) I kicked the plan into action.

Essentially phase 1 (2 weeks) is lean protein & vegetables at each meal, a little healthy fat, low/no-fat dairy is allowed, and a serving of nuts per day.  Absolutely ZERO sugar, no starchy carbs (bread, pasta, rice, oatmeal, grains, cereals, potatoes, corn, etc.), and no fruits.  Though I don't completely agree with the no fruits and have had approx. 1 serving per day.  Sugar substitutes are allowed, but I try to avoid those at all costs so have been going completely cold turkey on that.  No sweet tasting treats for me!

Day 1 I was pretty much afraid to eat and to be honest, I avoided it as much as possible.  It was actually easier to just not eat, than to face the decision on what to eat.

Day 2 a slight headache began and I felt very discombobulated.  I was a bit dizzy, very fuzzy-headed and extremely lethargic (though I can't say for 100% certainty that this wasn't associated with the long travel and alte nights).  Day 3 was pretty much the same.  I questioned my safety behind the wheel and thus did not drive those days.

My kids got called a few names as I saw them eating granola bars, cereal ... and when my daughter asked if I'd make her my most recent favourite recipe of Oatmeal Pancakes I thought I would explode.  But I forged on and have stuck to it. 

I did do a few long walks and runs during the first few days and let me say that they were HARD!  I could definitely feel when I hit a wall part way through, and sometimes the entire run was difficult.  I would NEVER take something like this on if I were in the middle of some serious training.  It's even recommended that you don't.

The first few days I was also a bit (ahem) "backed-up", but a bit more fluids and more veggies and things got sorted out again.

Since Day 4 things have gotten much easier.  I don't feel like strangling people who I see eating carbs.  And I no longer have to switch channels as the 45 zillion candy/chocolate commercials come on.  My energy is definitely coming back and I feel pretty good.

I noticed almost immediately that the bloaty feeling in my stomach went away and it seemed flatter.

My husband joined in on this plan to support me ... and also because he realized that the thought of going off of sugar made him react like a crack addict entering detox.  He doesn't need to lose an ounce so I was a bit concerned about him.  He lasted 2 days following the diet as I have been, then he reintroduced a few carbs and fruit to his diet - which is what I thought he should do anyway.  He is still trying to keep with the no sugar aspect which is what he needs to focus on anyway.  I think his headaches were worse than mine.

After 1 full week following this program I'm feeling pretty good.  My cravings have definitely subsided and I have good energy.  My clothes look better, my stomach is definitely slimmer (main objective here), I'm down in my measurements and I've lost 3 lbs this week for my lowest weight in 2010 of 145.8.  My lowest in the last few years is 143.6 (very briefly) from last November.

I plan to follow this phase for another week, then in Phase 2 you slowly reintroduce fruit & healthy starchy carbs.  Can I say that I'll NEVER eat sugar again?  No, I definitely can not say that, I know I will.  But, I do want to eat ALOT less sugar than I was and eliminate it from things that I'm learning to enjoy without (plain yoghurt, tea, hopefully eventually cereal and oatmeal).  I don't believe that sugar & starchy carbs are evil, but I know that I easily overindulge in these items and my goal is to reduce from the amount I had been eating.

 June 1 - 5 mile/8K run

June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 x 1 mile treadmill intervals and core
June 4 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 5 - 2.5 mile walk and 1.5 mile run
June 6 - 3 Hours heavy clean-up

June 7 - 5 x 10 minute treadmill intervals and some core

June 8 - Shred Level 1

June 9 - 45 min run/walk

June 10 - lifting & walking

June 11 - lifting & walking

June 12 - 30 min run & dancing

June 13 - 30 min hike

June 14 - run & walk

June 15 - 2+ hours walking

June 16 - swimming & stair climbing

June 17 - 7 mile treadmill run

June 18 - walking

June 19 - stairs & walking

June 20 - 8 mile run (pretty fast)

June 21 - 6.2 mile steady run

June 22 - 6 mile run

June 23 - 7 mile run

June 24 - 7 mile run

 Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Sugar Overload

One thing I really noticed on this last little mini trip is how excessive we've gotten with our sugar/crap food intake.  I've mentioned many times in the past that my husband has a major sweet tooth.  I do too, but can usually keep it in reasonable check.  Recently it has been growing and I'm having more and more cravings.

However, after the wedding, we had a long, boring 4 hour drive to our friends house.  After a couple of long days and late nights we were all exhausted.  Halfway through the drive my husband started asking what there was to eat.  Well, I .... being the good healthy-living person I am ... did not pack ANY cookies or such and relatively little in the way of junky snack foods.  My husband needed a fix like a drug addict.

So we whipped into the next Walmart (in the not so lovely town of Edson, Alberta) and the stuff we got was insane!

• chocolate covered almonds
• chocolate covered raisins
• Oreo
• Chips Ahoy
• chocolate covered butter cookies
• 8 pack of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
• 2 boxes chocolate covered caramel granola bars
• dried cranberries
• dried pineapple (injected with a ton of sugar)
• 4 boxes of juice

As horrible as this is, what's worse is that 3 days later all of this was essentially gone .... GONE!  Even between 4 people this is still a ton of junk.  That's just crazy.

To my credit about the only thing I ate out of that was pretty much the whole bag of chocolate covered almonds, 1 Reese cup, and a few of the dried pineapples ... but still, too much.  I told my husband that we seriously need to make some changes.
 
On our long drive home, while feeling VERY toxic, I decided I needed to make some changes.  Something I've thought about before, dabbled in, but never really fully embraced.

Tomorrow I'll let you know what it is, and how it's going so far.

 June 1 - 5 mile/8K run

June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 x 1 mile treadmill intervals and core
June 4 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 5 - 2.5 mile walk and 1.5 mile run
June 6 - 3 Hours heavy clean-up

June 7 - 5 x 10 minute treadmill intervals and some core

June 8 - Shred Level 1

June 9 - 45 min run/walk

June 10 - lifting & walking

June 11 - lifting & walking

June 12 - 30 min run & dancing

June 13 - 30 min hike

June 14 - run & walk

June 15 - 2+ hours walking

June 16 - swimming & stair climbing

June 17 - 7 mile treadmill run

June 18 - walking

June 19 - stairs & walking

June 20 - 8 mile run (pretty fast)

June 21 - 6.2 mile steady run

June 22 - 6 mile run

June 23 - 7 mile run

 Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Back from Alberta

Took a little hiatus upon my return from our mini holiday.  We got back Thursday and I took the extended weekend to decompress and lay low.  It was much needed.  This trip was a bit of a whirlwind that involved WAY too much driving and too many late, late nights.  Alberta is 1 hour ahead of us, plus they get daylight until quite late - so going to bed early was a challenge that we failed every night.  I'm almost caught up now.

Thankfully though the weather was beautiful!

This is what faced us as we packed up and left Friday morning.

Thankfully we drove out of that crap and found sunshine.  By the evening we were treated by this amazing view of Mt Robson near the BC/Alberta border.  It's a rare treat to find this view completely unobstructed from clouds.

The wedding was amazing!  It was a gorgeous day, the weather couldn't have been more perfect.  A lovely casual event with an incredible view in the Canadian Rockies.  My husband is the giraffe 2nd groomsman.

This is us after the ceremony.

My son before the ceremony.  You wouldn't know it but he was sick with a cold and after one dose of daytime cold medicine he was ready to drop off to sleep, which he spent the majority of the day doing.

And my daughter posing on the bridge afterwards

The view from our room was breathtaking.  Such a beautiful part of our country.  I ♥ nature!

I have a few more pictures to share but I'll leave that for another day.

The trip was way too short with WAY too much driving.  28 hours of driving time (not including stops) in less than a week.  Didn't leave alot of room for activity, but I did manage to squeeze it in, even if at times it was on the lame side.

I have returned though with a refreshed resolve and a renewed fire!  All those hours in the truck are good for something....

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run
June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 x 1 mile treadmill intervals and core
June 4 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 5 - 2.5 mile walk and 1.5 mile run
June 6 - 3 Hours heavy clean-up

June 7 - 5 x 10 minute treadmill intervals and some core

June 8 - Shred Level 1

June 9 - 45 min run/walk

June 10 - lifting & walking

June 11 - lifting & walking

June 12 - 30 min run & dancing

June 13 - 30 min hike

June 14 - run & walk

June 15 - 2+ hours walking

June 16 - swimming & stair climbing

June 17 - 7 mile treadmill run

June 18 - walking

June 19 - stairs & walking

June 20 - 8 mile run (pretty fast)

June 21 - 6.2 mile steady run

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Car Dancing Queen

I think in another life I was some kind of rock star ... or more like a pop queen.  Though I'm pretty sure I can't sing to save my life.  I am that crazy woman, singing at the top of her lungs while dancing and using the steering wheel as a drum set (when safe of course, must practice safe drumming).  I'm sure the other motorists think I'm nuts ... I know my kids do.  It's one the the most embarrassing things I can do in front of them ... and their friends.  I'm an evil Mom :)

While I am a car dancing & singing queen, only my kids and dog have heard it full force.  Not even my husband!

I also dance at my desk ... when no one else is in the office of course.

When the bosses are out of town and I'm alone at work, I have locked the door, closed the blinds, turned up the music and danced like a fool.  You gotta beat the boredom somehow.

I'm a total pop girl.  Or, as my son says, I love music that is all about rainbows, puppy dogs and happy faces.  I like fun stuff with a fast beat, what can I say!  Though it should never be admitted outloud, Hannah Montana and Britney Spears do put out some good groovin' music.  ♫ Hit me baby one more time ..... ♫ (that's for you sissy!)

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Wedding of an Ex

Today we are at the wedding. 

The groom is a long time (30-ish years) friend of my husband's.  They grew up next door to each other, and his parents still live next door to us.

When I was in Grade 8 I briefly dated this guy ("J" - the groom ... my husband's friend).  "J" and I were friends at school, he asked me out .... didn't really have feelings for him but thought, hey why not, you never know.  As it turns out, I did not have those types of feelings for him, at all, and dumped him after two weeks by taking off on my horse when he saw me out riding.  He followed me for about 5 Km on his bike and then gave up.  So mature of me, eh?

But apparently "J" felt pretty strongly about me back then.  Although I never met my current husband while I was dating "J", he knew all about me before we even met.  After I ceremoniously dumped "J", he spent the whole summer upset about me, crying, getting drunk.  My now husband had to hear all about me all summer long.  It's a wonder he even wanted to date me when we first met.  That was a pretty funny story when I heard about it and I still tease "J" about it.  By that point though "J" was long over me and we had become friends again. 

"J" was best man at our wedding.  Is that weird?  Another ex-boyfriend also attended our wedding and my husband's ex-girlfriend's uncle was our minister and we visited her on our honeymoon.  OK, maybe that is strange, but you have to remember that I was still in high school when we met, so none of our exes were really that serious of a deal.

My husband was also best man at "J"s first wedding.  That marriage ended in divorce so this time around my husband will be a groomsman instead of best man.  "J" doesn't want to take chances of doing things the same way.  The first wedding was the whole Catholic church deal (sit, stand, kneal - it's like an aerobics class in formal wear).  I was the maid of honour.  Thankfully this wedding I am just a guest and it's a much more casual affair, outdoors in a scenic location.  Hmmm, though maybe the full meal deal would be better - I could use it towards my "30 Days of Activity" challenge.

Hopefully the weather is decent.  Hopefully if it's not they have a back-up plan.  Either way, surely I will have some amazing pictures when I get back.

Until then.....

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Random Things

So .... this entry today means we got away on our trip.  I'm still not certain exactly how long I'll be away.  But ... I prepared a couple of fun/random posts for my absence.

Throughout this trip I WILL stay active.  We will be in some very scenic lands and I plan to enjoy it thoroughly.  Hopefully the weather cooperates.  I really can't take much more rain in my life. 

While on our trip, there is a chance we might see one of these guys.

Though it would be nice if we came upon him, rather than him coming upon (or at) us.

Years ago, on our bicycle trip through this area, we came upon a black bear on the side of the road.  Several cars were stopped to take pictures.  I however, was terrified as my "get-away vehicle" was a little on the slow and unprotected side.  So here I am, heart beating a million beats a minute, and I just want to get out of this area A-S-A-P!  I'm watching the bear, not paying attention, when suddenly I look up and notice my husband has stopped his bike to look (just as all the other people were doing).  But it's too late, I'm going too fast to stop!  So I veer off the road, into a little ditch & long grass, and somehow miraculously make it back up on to the road.  Yeah - stupid move.  I don't know how I didn't crash.  But if I had, I would have been easy pickings for that bear if he so chose.  Wildlife is cool to see ... I just prefer to see it while safely tucked inside a vehicle.
 
Quite likely we will also see elk, big horn sheep and/or mountain goats and possibly the great Canadian Moose!  It's also possible we could see a Grizzly Bear, and while they are very magestic ... I'd much prefer to see them at the zoo, or better yet on film.
 
This trip is one of the reasons I decided to institue my "30 Days of Activity" challenge.  Even though there will be some long travel days, I still need to incorporate activity ... which in turn usually helps me to keep eating healthy.

Today will likely be my most difficult day to get in activity.  We are looking at an all day drive and upon arrival we will be heading to the rehearsal dinner.  Hmmm, wonder if there is a chance there will be dancing there.  Better not bank on it.  I'm writing this post on Thursday, so my plan is to do a 30 minute run or a level of the shred early in the morning before we leave - even if that means having to get up before the birds.  I'll have plenty of hours to catch up on my sleep while we drive.  Generally I'm asleep within 30-60 minutes of leaving the house - sometimes less.

See you when I get back! 

Until then, enjoy my random posts and...

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Le Sigh

The last couple days have been a bit of a disaster.  I'm feeling overwhelmed and it's coming out in my eating and lack of energy.  My food choices haven't been ideal.  We're virtually out of all forms of fresh vegetables and I'm hesitant to buy any due to the uncertainty in my life right now (more to follow below). 

I have been craving chocolate covered nuts, of any kind, for a good week now.  Last night I finally bought a small box (though still about 500 calories worth - they add up quick!) and ate the whole thing.  Up until then I had just been eating "things" trying to quell the craving.  Figured I may as well buck up and face the demon.  May have worked, as today I no longer have the craving ... but it's the source of the craving that is more the issue.

While I've been active, it often hasn't been with my usual vigor.  And I'm dragging myself to do it.  Which isn't me.  Normally I LOVE to exercise.  Normally exercise is the one thing I can turn to even when everything else in my world isn't going well.  It's free and it's within my control.  Normally that alone makes me feel good.

Part of it is this weather - yes, we are back to rain again and it's really getting draining.  Will there ever be a summer?  It's June and I'm still having to make a fire most nights to keep the chill off.  All I want to do is come home, wrap in a blanket and crash on the couch.  It's also due to financial strain, which probably makes the rain that much more depressing. 

Tomorrow morning we must head out of town to attend a friend's wedding - my husband is a groomsman.  Originally this was supposed to be a 10 day trip so we could have a little holiday too.  The wedding is in an amazingly beautiful part of the country and it would be a huge shame to not explore it a bit.  Especially since the kids have never been there.

As of right now though, there are so many things this is hinging on.  It's less than 24 hours to departure and I still don't know with 100% certainty which vehicle we're taking (car/truck), what we're staying in (tent/camper/hotel), or for how many days we will be gone (3-10 days). 

For a planner like me .... the uncertainty is driving me nuts!

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run
June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 x 1 mile treadmill intervals and core
June 4 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 5 - 2.5 mile walk and 1.5 mile run
June 6 - 3 Hours heavy clean-up
June 7 - 5 x 10 minute treadmill intervals and some core
June 8 - Shred Level 1
June 9 - 45 min run/walk

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

I've got SUNSHINE! (for now)

Apparently complaining about the weather helps.  Yeah, OK, not really.  But .... shortly after I posted yesterday's entry the gray clouds lifted and we got a little sun peeking out.

This morning, my alarm went off and I was greeted by a 10' x 6' window of pure solid blue sky outside my room.   Ah bliss!

Though it's expected to be shortlived as the forecast is calling for rain, and lots of it, tomorrow.

At least the temporary good weather allowed my husband to finish off one of his work projects that has been delayed for months due to weather (and thus delaying final payment to us).  He had to stay up with our son and his crew until 11PM last night to finish it.  He's such a hard worker!

For now though, I will enjoy the sun.  I even wore a cute little sundress today that I bought last month.  Gotta take those days when I can.  Even if I'm tired after work I'm going to go outside and do something.  Typically after work I need a couple hours of downtime (which usually consists of making supper, chores, etc.) - but I rarely have the energy or drive for a workout as soon as I get home.  Today however I must take advantage - even if it's a casual walk!  I have got to be seriously Vit D deficient (it's actually a common problem in my area).

(picture previously posted - not from today)

Last night I had a FANTASTIC run.  I did 5 x 10 minute intervals on the treadmill.  Intervals really help me with increasing speed, plus they leave me absolutely drenched and surely it must be a good fat burner.  My intervals consisted of an 8 (or less) minute mile (7.5 mph) and then I upped the speed to 8 mph for 1 minute and 9 mph for the last minute.  This gave me an overall 6.2 miles in 48:36 (7:50/mile pace). 

Though I'm not yet able to run a continuous 10K at that pace, training like this helps me to mentally believe that I can ... and gets my body used to running at that pace.  Eventually this should translate into this faster pace over a longer distance.  This is a training method that has worked well for me in the past.

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run
June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 x 1 mile treadmill intervals and core
June 4 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 5 - 2.5 mile walk and 1.5 mile run
June 6 - 3 Hours heavy clean-up
June 7 - 5 x 10 minute treadmill intervals and some core

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Rain Rain Go Away

Late post today.  Blogger was having a bad morning (apparently it's catchy) and I couldn't log in.  Just one more annoying thing to test my sanity.

It's been rough times lately and I'm trying to cope.  One step at a time .... and one day at a time.  I will get through this.

We have had so much rain here lately and it's kind of the final straw for me.  I can handle alot of crap in my life.  But I need some sunshine and I need to be outdoors, running, biking ... enjoying the simple things in life.  I don't enjoy that stuff in the rain so lately it feels like my world is collapsing.  I will get through it.

WEEKEND RECAP

Friday - Worked a bit late, had chores I had to do, and was left with just enough time to do a round of the 30 Day Shred and that's it.  This workout is pretty tough and thorough so I don't feel any guilt if this is all I can manage in a day.

Saturday - We actually had a half decent day.  Unfortunately I wasted some of the morning away doing some chores that I should have left another day.  And I made the time to color my long over-due tresses (didn't realize how much gray I have - yikes!).  My daughter wanted to get out somewhere and she knows I'm always up for a walk or something.  We were going to head downtown, but with the hair and all I left it too late.

We ended up going for a trail walk near home.  My son and the dog came along as well.  It doesn't happen often that my teens want to just hang with me for the day.  It was nice.  Though I did have to agree to take my son to the Gelato place before our walk (I didn't partake - yay me!).

It would have been a beautiful day for a bike ride.  But this was very nice.  Came home and decided to soak up as much Vitamin D as I could (somehow that sounds healthier than suntanning, huh?).  However, the clouds came in again later in the day ... back to the crap.

I did head out for a run late in the evening.  Didn't get too far due to more tummy issues (getting kind of sick  of this) AND running skirt issues.  I was determined, even though it really wasn't that warm, that I would wear my Target running skirt.  The undershorts do ride up, so I took the precaution to apply Glide before I headed out.  Maybe I just don't understand Glide ... but it really didn't help me.  I know, from experience, that it does help reduce/prevent chafing.  I use it under my arms on long runs and it works great.  But on my thighs it felt like I'd applied Glue Stick and my thighs felt "grippy".  I was accutely aware with every step that my thighs were rubbing - VERY distracting.  I think I will have to return my Target running skirts to just comfortable casual summer wear and stick to capris for running - or eventually try out a better product.

Sunday - Woke up to it pissing raining AGAIN and I instantly wished I could just have stayed asleep and not seen that.  Felt instantly depressed and I just could not face the thought of meeting up with my running buddies.  I have run in the rain (and COLD rain at that) many, many times.  But Sunday I just could NOT face it.  I had planned a 10 mile run, but my heart was not in it. 

Instead, I moped around all morning, feeling miserable and sorry for myself.  Eventually I got out of my funk and took the kids to town to do a few errands.  In the afternoon I helped my mother in law with a major clean-up project and hauled 20-30 lbs boxes back and forth for a few hours.  By night time I was beat.  I was thinking about squeezing in a short workout before bed when I realized it was 9:30.  I decided that a good night's sleep was much more important than doing an "official" workout for the day.  This is the 30 Days of ACTIVITY and I know that I will have other days that will more than make up for this.


So ... not an amazing weekend.  Not the ton of activity I had wanted, but still some activity. 

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run
June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 x 1 mile treadmill intervals and core
June 4 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 5 - 2.5 mile walk and 1.5 mile run
June 6 - 3 Hours heavy clean-up

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Killer Headache

On Sunday I went out for a run.  Did 8.5 miles, part of it with a running buddy.  It wasn't a fast or tough run by any means.  In fact, I was disappointed because I didn't allow enough time to run farther.  I totally felt like I had more in me.

But, later that day I felt quite drained.  Could have used a nap, but someone came over to check out one of my horses.  I thought maybe it was a lack of hydration so I drank more water, plus had a big glass of milk (thinking my body could use the protein in it too).  By about 7:00 I was not only wiped, but I had the most dreadful headache.  I could literally feel my pulse throbbing at my temples.  Plus I felt a bit dizzy and queasy.  I took an ibuprofen, grabbed a cold washcloth for my head, and snuggled into a blanket on the couch.

By 9:00 I managed to have a 30 minute nap, but really didn't feel much better.  I took another ibuprofen, got my cloth cold again, and headed to bed praying that I would fall asleep.  I was almost in tears it hurt so bad.

When I woke up Monday morning it was all gone, except my eyes seemed a teensy bit swollen.

I had this same sort of situation after a race back in February.  I have felt exhaustion after a long run, and needed a nap, maybe had a slight headache ... but nothing like these two instances.

Did a little Google research and did see some interesting things.  One thing mentioned was of course dehydration.  While I didn't feel dehydrated ... maybe I haven't been drinking enough water.  I know it's been pretty cold and miserable lately and I likely have been drinking more hot black tea and less water.  My weight was also up 4 lbs the next morning ... that's got to signal something because it certainly wasn't due to food intake.

Another thing it mentioned was possible muscle tension.  Hmmm, that's a possibility.  I pulled out the 30 Day Shred on Saturday (ahahaha I just accidentally typed the 309 Day shred - wowsers, that's a long one).  Having not done much weights recently it REALLY kicked my butt ... and my chest, back, arms..... 

When I began my run on Sunday morning I definitely felt tension through my back, chest and shoulders.  Perhaps I was too tense on my run.

The common thread I do see between these two situations is that I was wiped after my run and wasn't able, or just didn't, take the time to lay down and let my body recoup when it was clearly exhausted.  Maybe that's the lesson I need to take from this?

You gotta love blogging for having a little piece of history to help you figure things out.  I will monitor this situation to see if it happens again.

Day 3 and going strong.  Left it until after 9PM again, but got it done.  Did 1 mile intervals on the treadmill and was super happy with my average pace.  Speed work is kind of fun.  Between intervals I dropped and did some core work.

 

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run
June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1
June 3 - 4 mile/6.4K - 1 mile intervals on treadmill at avg. 7:28 pace and core

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

That's better

I started doing the Shred again on Saturday ... Sunday morning my muscles were pretty tight, but I managed to pull out an 8.5 mile run.  The run felt pretty good, though I did have some problems afterwards (post to come on this).

Did it again on Monday, except instead of the cardio intervals I did 5-10 min bursts on the treadmill at a pretty fast clip ... Tuesday I was almost crying with every step I took.  I literally had to use my hands to lift my legs climbing out of bed.  If I had to get up after sitting at my desk for a while I would nearly fall down. The worst was my quads - so sore, followed by my chest, abs.....  Went for a 5 mile run with my husband Tuesday night and felt EVERY step along the way.  It was horrid.

Have you ever had that feeling where your muscles FEEL like this - even if they don't LOOK like this:

They feel like they are SO pumped up and must be bursting at the seems, yet in the mirror they are still your regular ol' legs.  That's how I felt on Tuesday.

But .. last night I did the workout again ... and today I feel great good.  I can still feel that I worked my muscles, but I no longer feel like some sort of poison has been injected into my body.  I also ONLY did the Shred, no run, maybe that's why I don't feel so run over. 

I made myself a chart of all the moves in the video. 

This way I can follow the workout without having to actually watch the DVD.  The only way I can currently have the video in the gym is to snatch my husbands laptop.  Sometimes he needs this for work so I can't rely on it.  Plus, I'd much rather listen to my own music than listen to (and watch) Jillian on a regular basis. 

It's also nice to follow the workout that way as I can take extra time if needed to complete my reps, or add on extra reps where I want them.  I find in the video she doesn't do things equally and that drives me nuts - 15 reps on the left SHOULD equal 15 on the right and in the video it doesn't.

I color coded it so I can easily divide up the different sections (strength, cardio & core).  That way if I want to sub out something (cardio for running) I just refer to the sections I need.  I know, I'm a total geek!

Honestly I did NOT want to workout last night.  We had another torrential downpour last night and that tends to leave me in a funk.  I delayed working out until 9:15 PM.  But I knew I couldn't go to bed without doing some activity towards my challenge.  Having a goal/challenge really does help!  I mean, I couldn't possibly renege on the 2nd day, could I??

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run
June 2 - 30 Day Shred Level 1

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Let the Games Begin

Did you happen to notice that I didn't post a weigh-in yesterday?  Yeah, I didn't think so.  Anyhow, I purposely chose not to post it.  Why?  Because I'm just don't know what's going on.  So it's all really quite useless information.

My weight is fluctuating wildly throughout the week without reason or explanation ...

and not changing over the longer term either.

I am the exact same weight I was 5 weeks ago.  Honestly, I almost don't care to weigh myself right now.  For right now, I'm more interested in being healthy and active.

And on that note ....

Last week I went to my hairdresser.  Back in January she asked me if I had ever tried the 30 Day Shred, which of course I had.  She wanted to give it a go so I lent her my DVD.  She loved it!  I think she lost about 15 lbs in the month.

She loved it so much she went and bought her own DVD (she was afraid she'd wear mine out) and she has done it EVERY SINGLE DAY since January. 

Honestly I don't know how she does the same thing every day, and I don't understand fully how her body hasn't adapted to the workout.  It's the only workout she does.  But ... she is looking so good!  The other day after the appt, she took off her smock and I could really see how small she's gotten. 

I went straight home and pulled out my DVD and it kicked! my! ass! 

Oh my have I ever neglected my muscles.  That first set of push-ups almost had me in tears and I was shocked at how much strength I have lost. 

I have done it a couple times in the last few days and can feel every step I take and my whole body is cursing me.  So, apparently it's working!!!  I kinda love that feeling.

June 1 - 5 mile/8K run

Keep Active!

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥

Just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister!  I think she still reads my blog, though she never comments ;-p   :)

June Goals - 30 Days of Activity

JUNE 2010 GOALS

♥ Run 100 Miles - I'm bumping this one back up again.  I can do this and there are no excuses.  I don't care how fast I do this ... just that I do it.

♥ Plan! Prepare! Organize! - Have to keep this one on the forefront.  It is SO important for me.

♥ Races:  NONE.  While I'd love to do races all the time, I just can't commit to it right now. But ... that does not mean that I have to set aside my running goals.  Seeing as I do not have any races on schedule, I will commit to doing a timed 5K before June 15th.  And I will complete a timed half marathon before month-end.
♥ 30 Days of Activity:  I will do something active every day this month.  Running, hiking, cycling, walking, swimming, strength ... something.

Some of this will be challenging this month.  We are attending an out-of-town wedding and will be travelling & camping for a week and a bit.  On those days indoor activity won't be an option.  Hopefully the weather co-operates, but if not ... I still will get out and be active!

Also, I am meeting up with Syl and her family this month.  We are planning a beautiful family hike and I am so excited!

Don't you just wish you could do this all day long?

 

Heidi

♥♥♥♥♥