Friday, March 27, 2009

Four Miles...

Just wanted to post because today I ran four miles!!! The first 2+ miles I ran without stopping (25 min.) then I walked for about 10 min. and then ran the rest of the way home. I was so full of energy and felt so great and it was such an awesome day!! I'm well on my way to making it to the 5K mark before the Tok Trot on April 18th. I really want to challenge myself to do that, but at the same time not push too hard.....I definitely think I run better outside!

Also, I started my Bromalite yesterday so I'll let you guys know what I think. No problems so far....

Monday, March 23, 2009

Progress

Well, I'm not entirely sure where the progress has come from, but this has been a really great week for me. I am four pounds down weighing in at 144 this morning, and I have managed to run 20 minutes straight twice this week!! (That's huge for me because my max has been 15 min...)

So, it seems that the detox is going really well, although I don't really see how taking a few vitamins and swishing around oil in your mouth for 20 minutes can really make such a big difference. I guess it just seems so simple...It would appear, however, that these few adjustments are exactly what my body needed. I feel great and really have been able to tell a difference in my body. I do have a few days here and there that I have these odd aches and pains and stuff, but I was told that it is all a part of the detox process so you just have to press on and keep being faithful to your program. I am hoping my Bromalite comes in this week because I want to give that a try too.

Mantra for the week: Be faithful to who you are at all times.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Detox

Okay, so I met this new provider this week who encouraged me to do a detox (She is definitely not the first to mention this.) To really just clean my system out and see if I can better absorb vitamins. It seems that I am vitamin deficient mostly probably due to the lack of sunlight etc. She seems to think that these deficiencies have caused my kidneys and liver to not function properly thus straining my thyroid. All of this together has kind of just led to some poor health problems for me and is probably related to why after a year of working out and eating healthy I still haven't been able to lose any weight. I'm still weighing in at 148. =)

So, I'm doing a trial to see if I start feeling better and start seeing improvements to my health.......I'm trying this "oil pulling" technique with coconut oil in the mornings (look it up online if you are curious, it's pretty interesting. I will let you know what I think. So far, so good.) Drinking Psyllium Husk in the morning. Taking 10,000 IU of Vitamin D and also 2.5mg Melatonin at night. Other than that just keeping with my normal healthy diet and exercising as normal. I also signed up for a free trial of Bromalite, and will let you know what I think of that once it comes in. =)

I'll keep you posted on how I feel. It's been two days since I started it and I feel really great right now, so I guess that's good. =)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

15 Degrees is Too Darn Cold...

While common sense should tell ANYONE that running outside when it's 15 Degrees isn't a great idea, it seemed innocent at the time. The sun was shinning and Travis was headed out to run. Since I managed to do okay yesterday with minimal soreness it was so beautiful that I said, "You know, I think I'm gonna go for a run too."

Off I go and once again did really well for the first mile or so (Not sure the exact distance, but Travis said it's a little over a mile to the Alaskan Highway - with round trip being somewhere around 2.1 miles.) Here's the kicker....my shins and quads were sore from yesterday so I slowed down to a walk for a few minutes and then realized that it wasn't a good idea because with the sweating I had done I was now freezing! =) So, despite my discomfort I began to run again. The wind was picking up and really blowing hard (Yes, weather changes around here within minutes.) As I turned down the road to run the last quarter mile or so the wind was REALLY kicking up and I was freezing my butt off. I felt like I was running for my life! haha...Travis would definitely get a kick out of this if he were to read it (Which is why I don't let him read this blog! haha) He runs when it's 30 below and snow and ice are building on his lashes - NOT ME!!!

Anyway, I did manage to make it safely home and now am very content to be in the warmth of my cabin. =) I write this to say one real observation.....Like many things in life, sunshine can be deceptive!!!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

I DID IT!!!

It's Saturday and a very nice, calm 20 degrees outside. Because it's rarely this nice I decided that today I would challenge myself to run outside for the first time this winter.

I headed out in my usual gear (It's usually cold in the garage where I run, so I figured I would be good with what I usually wear.- Cotton yoga pants, a synthetic long sleeve shirt, zip up sweatshirt, and cotton gloves. To this I added a stocking cap) I took off down the road and it was SOOOOO cold. Oh my gosh, the wind was beating against my face and my eyes were watering. I was thinking, "What kind of idiot does this?" I was so tempted to turn around and head back home and hop on my treadmill. The snow was like running on a sandy beach and my feet were slipping quite a bit. I pressed on and after the first quarter mile I turned down a side road that was much better packed down. By changing directions I was sheltered from the wind and immediately warmed up. I started feeling great and just kept running. I was going at an alarmingly slow rate, and yet felt really great about where I was at. I was breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the crisp winter day and just feeling great!!! I ran the entire first mile without stopping for a moment and then continued running the mile in return with an occasional 30 sec rest. I could not believe the challenge on my lungs and muscles in my legs that I don't usually use. The most amazing part was that when I reached my front steps I felt alive and refreshed and OH SO PROUD!!! I know it's not a huge accomplishment, but I was starting to feel like I wasn't really getting anywhere with my running, and after today I know that eventually I really will be a good runner!!!

All this to say that while running in Alaska is challenging, it is not impossible!

MANTRA: Love and accept yourself in the present moment.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Reality Check

Having realistic expectations is about looking at what is - not what you'd like to be - and using that information to shape and mold a positive, yet honest expectation for change. - from an article on yahoo.com that was really awesome!
It seems that lately we have all been struggling with accepting where we are at in this present moment. We are so hard on ourselves for the small indulgences and set backs - May I just take a second to say that you girls are all so amazing and I just think you are each so beautiful and special and I admire so much your dedication and motivation to strive towards living healthier and more energy filled lives!! GO GIRLS!!!

I too had a week of "straying" from my original plan!!! Sorry, Cherry, I confess that I had a few M&M's and Hershey Kisses without even realizing that I was eating chocolate!!! YIKES.......Lets see, I had fried chicken for the first time in six years, french fries, and BBQ pork!!! Again, YIKES......Those were my only real "oops" moments, oh yeah, and Tiramisu! YIKES.....haha.....Otherwise I tried to make healthy food choices while on vacation and I faithfully woke up each morning and worked out in the gym at the hotel.

Now it's back to my daily exercising, yoga, and healthy eating. Sometimes I think we just have to relax and give ourselves a break....It's only life.

While I am 10 lbs heavier than I was 7 years ago, SERIOUSLY, it was SEVEN YEARS AGO. The real question is, why compare ourselves to what we were before? Why not be grateful for the life, reality, stresses and growth that have molded us into the women we are today? I mean, why are we always looking back trying to be what we were in highschool or before children, or when we got married!? I mean, shouldn't we just be glad for those extra wrinkles, those extra rolls? I mean, isn't that due to all the hardships and life that we have experienced? Just something to ponder.......For me, when it gets down to it, I'm really happy where I'm at. I feel probably the happiest I've ever been, and I'm okay with those extra 10 lbs. Someday I hope they disapear, but for now I'm going to drink my wine and smile! haha...