Run, Run, Run

So, today I ran the best ever and it was a real challenge but felt great! Maybe this program really does work after all?

My biggest struggle is still giving up the sweets, but I have improved a lot and can really tell a difference.

The Challenge of Balance

Being faithful to your workout is sometimes a challenge. Challenging yourself without over-achieving is an even harder task.......I'm struggling with this right now. I'm doing a running plan that is supposed to increase your run time, but it seems to increase too rapidly for me and I'm pushing myself too hard. (Like I can do the first two cycles, but by then I reach my edge and just can't keep going!) My desire is to move further and challenge myself, but at the same time remain comfortable enough to enjoy my exercise. So, this week I'm struggling to find that balance.


"You can have anything you want, if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, if you hold that desire with singleness of purpose."

Yoga vs. Pilates

Okay, so after trying to answer your questions on the difference between Yoga and Pilates I feel that I really didn't clearly say what I was trying to say.....So, I looked on the internet at various articles talking about this very debate - Yoga vs. Pilates

Here are the highlights taken from various web sources.

• Yoga is based on the Eastern idea of moving energy through your body. The more freely the energy flows, the healthier and more energetic you feel. Physical tension hinders the flow; over time, areas of tension in your body can become tight and rigid, even painful. The goal of yoga is to keep the body supple through movement and stretching. But there's another dimension. Yoga is a holistic spiritual discipline with its roots in Eastern forms of meditation. The physical postures, although they condition the body, are really aimed at the mind. They symbolize the goal of living your life in a state of balance and composure. When I spend an hour in a yoga class, I melt into a kind of meditative state and emerge wonderfully relaxed and refreshed.

• Pilates on the other hand is physical conditioning first and foremost. There's also a new form of Pilates, the Pilates mat class, which relies more on callisthenic-style exercises and stretches. This form is physically more similar to a yoga class though the emphasis is still on physical change rather than on spiritual development through postures and breathing.

• Yoga is a lifestyle, rather then simply an exercise.

• Pilates mainly concentrates on cultivating core strength in the body and lengthening the spine. Also, Pilates is a valuable tool for increasing strength, definition and proper posture.

• Pilates instructs one to inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth; while in yoga, one is taught to inhale and exhale through the nose only.

Basically both are fabulous exercise techniques, but totally different with a lot of the same results. =) I think the major difference is that Pilates is more about what you get out of it physically where as Yoga is more of the mental result firstly and THEN the physical result comes.

Anyway, I got curious since I didn't quite understand the difference myself so I did a little research. Either way, they are both wonderful options for someone looking to de-stress and tone the muscles. I still never found an answer on how often you can practice pilates. (I have a friend that I can ask though because she is a professional pilates instructor in Florida.)

Don't know if that helps clarify or not, but no mater what you do, it's really about HOW you do, what you do!!! - Accept where you are at right now in the present moment and hang out with it and gain strength by being faithful to where you are at in your life! =)

Namaste

Mantra

This is a beautiful mantra to remind us of who we are and the body that God has given us - our body is not the same as the person next to us, but created for US and for the purpose that God intended.

"Your body has been with you all your life, and will be with you all your life. It has seen you through love and loss, pleasure and pain, challenge and growth. Your body deserves to be appreciated for every experience it has given you, and every way it has supported you."

Appreciation

I just wanted to share this motivational thought. It was part of a "focus" for a yoga session. The focus being on acceptance of your own personal body and appreciation for what it does for you and for it's uniqueness. I just found it very encouraging and beautiful, so thought I would share it with you all.


" This is an invitation to love and accept your body, knowing that radiant good health and beauty will transcend your body type. When this inner beauty shines through, it can surpass that of people with a supposedly ideal body shape, but who have not accessed their own inner shine, their glow of health. It is also an invitation to honor diversity, to celebrate your uniqueness and that of others. So why not permit yourself to live in the glow of your health and well-being? "

Love and appreciate yourself for who you are right now, in the present moment........

Very Exciting

So, I got a massage yesterday and my therapist says, "wow, your arms are really toned up!" Then she said that my legs were really toning up too and that she could tell a difference all over!!! She said that the yoga must really be working well for me because my back felt unbelievable to her!! She said that the tension was NOTHING like it usually is and that she could seriously not believe the difference in the way my energy flowed! haha.......(I have really bad tension spots in my back and neck from injuries etc....) I was very excited by this because that is what I had been feeling myself, but having someone totally on the outside saying the same things was huge for me! She said she was actually motivated to start doing yoga herself just because of the difference she felt in my back! =)

I share this simply because it's the first real "difference" that I've had anyone notice and it also goes to support the flow of energy from yoga and the difference it can make in the way you feel! I love it!!!

Oh, and I'm changing my 2009 Challenge to this: Only treating myself to one sweet per week! (The Chocolate thing was great and everything, but since I've been limiting my chocolate it just means that I've been substituting anything and everything resembling a sweet or dessert! haha....Somethings gotta give and I think I need to take the challenge one step further!)

I need a new job!!!

Darn these work folks bringing in goodies even after the new year!!! It makes me crazy becuase I just don't have enough self control to say "NO!!!!".........I had good intentions this morning, but it's only 11:00 and I've already fallen.........Such is life

New Year - New Progress!?

Well, Happy New Year to all.......I haven't updated this blog very often mostly due to the fact that I have no real wieght-loss progress to tell about.

I have to say, however, that I am very happy with where I'm at right now because I have been so faithful to my exercising routine and have not given up yet!!! I started working out regularly back in February and have been faithful ever since.

As a result, this year I have lot 10 lbs. Not much, but something. The progress has been painfully slow and I haven't lost anything over the past two months, but I did lose another 1/2 inch around my thigh's and arms, so that was progress in my eyes.

I have now added an hour of yoga to my routine daily. This new addition has been so amazing and by being faithful to my yoga practice I have felt SOOO wonderful. My back and neck have not been bothering me as much and I just can't say how much I love doing yoga. As a result of doing so much yoga my abs and arms are toning up a lot.

I still run two days on, one day off and I have been doing that faithfully now for about two months. (before I was running every other day) Still, the progress with running is VERY slow. I am still only doing between 1-2 miles and it's still a horribly exhausting effort, but at the same time I'm starting to feel better about it and I know that soon it will really start to pay off.......

As I said, I'm happy with where I'm at right now. I'm sure I could lose weight if I did some fancy diet or something, but I want to do it slow and by changing my lifestyle so that it will actually STAY off.

Changes for this year - LESS CHOCOLATE!!!! I am going to try to cut back to treating myself once a week........(That should be a huge challenge for me...)


I am still drinking around 64 oz of water a day and have totally given up all soda so that's awesome. I also drink a LOT of green tea and black tea, and so far I've been very healthy this winter season. I have cut down to one (maybe 2) cups of coffee a day so that is also a huge step for me......YES, I do drink a lot!

So, I guess that's my update! My goal is still another 10 lbs away, but I figure if I keep being faithful somethings gotta give....=) Happy New Year to you all and good luck with your own personal goals and desires for a healthier lifestyle!!!

Pushing Through

Okay, so before I left for vacation I was feeling really like I had started to make progress. I had started losing weight and inches and everything......I got pictures back from Vacation and I look way bigger than I think I've ever looked and I'm like, "what the heck?" My arms look big and everything!! I'm bummed. I know I shouldn't even care, but somehow I just expected to look so much better after working so hard......I'm just sharing my feelings and I know it takes a second sometimes to just vent and then it's all back to normal, so I'm just taking my "second"......I'm just a little bummed at my progress. EVERYONE at work is doing this "diet" thing where they order food and drink all these shakes and in like a week they lose 15 lbs!! (It's really expensive but it works and like 6 girls at work are doing it!!) I'm sad because it feels like they can lose it all so easy with little effort. - They don't even have to exercise! (Travis tries to encourage me by reminding me that they have like a LOT of weight to lose, but STILL...) It just can be hard to watch other people have such an easy time of it when I struggle with it so much. I think I wouldn't even care, but the older I get and the bigger I get the more and more I look like my mother and that just freaks me out all together!!!!

ANYWAY.......I'm still working out and eating healthy and I know that it will come off one day! Thanks to everyone for being faithful on your part and for encouraging me to do the same. I count on knowing that you are out there and that I'm not alone!!! By the way, Cherry, it's time for some before and after photos since you met your goal!!! YEAH...I want to see that bikini on you! haha......

Goals and Progress

I am VERY excited to say that I weighed in today and have lost 4 lbs!!! YEAH!!! So, there was NOTHING for like 7 months, but now I finally have started losing weight!!!

These four pounds are since my weigh-in in September. Overall since the very beginning I've lost 8lbs so I am very happy that things are starting to progress......My overall goal before the wedding in February is to get down to 132lbs which is what I was back in December 2006 (My lowest weight ever)........So, basically I have 12 more pounds to go.......If I keep running and working out like I am and I keep gradually decreasing my food intake I think I can accomplish this goal. I think I found that the key for me is to GRADUALLY decrease my portion sizes so as to not put my body in shock. The other huge thing that I have given up - which I personally feel is the biggest part - is Diet Coke. I drink a ton of water now and I think that makes a big difference.

Anyway, I was really excited, so I wanted to share....Oh, and I have lost 1 1/2 inches from my thys, 1 inch from my arms, 1 inch from my waist and 1/2 in from my hips! YEAH......

Progress

YEAH...I'm finally starting to see some progress from all of my efforts. This month I lost 1/2 in. all over and that was incredibly exciting for me. Still no "weight" loss, but at least something is happening. I think maybe I'm breaking through.......I'm still working out all the time and doing a lot of resistance training and stuff so I think maybe the progress will gradually continue.

I'm trying really hard to cut down on my calories as well as just eating super healthy. I still haven't found it in my will-power to totally give up sweats, but I think I am doing a little better anyway.....I am giving up all diet soda and now just drinking green tea and water so that's been a good adjustment.

Anyway, I was very excited to finally be seeing some results. I can definitely tell I am toning up and I think by Feb. my dress should look pretty good on! =) Haha......not that it's all that counts, but it would be a huge perk.......=)

New Training Plan

So, this morning I started my new training plan......We finally got moved into the garage since Ed moved all of his stuff out, so now I have my own work-out space (not to mention painting and sewing! yeah!!!)

I am starting to train up for some big hiking adventures and by doing so I will be doing a LOT more uphill treadmill training. Here is my plan for starters.......

Mondays: Run/Power Walk for 30-40 min. + Yoga + Abs

Tuesdays: Weights - Arms/pull day + 40 min. uphill hike (without any backpack for the first few weeks. After moving up to 1 hr hikes I will then decrease my time and add a weighted backpack)

Wednesdays: Slow run 30 min. + Yoga + Abs

Thursdays: Off

Fridays: Weights - Arms/push day + Abs + Yoga

Saturdays: Lower Body work out + 40 min. uphill hike

Sunday: Off


I will try this for a few weeks and then change it up and see what happens.......Mostly over the next year or so I am just trying to increase my stamina for long hikes since we finally made a decision that we are for SURE going to New Zealand for six months next winter. We are planning several big hiking trips and we will be carrying all of our belongings for six months on our backs so I REALLY need to get into hiking shape! haha..........Not focusing so much on running these days, but more on endurance and see how that works out for me........I'll keep you posted.

Marching On

Just wanted to say that I'm still moving forward a thousandth of a pound at a time! haha....I think I'm close to losing my first pound! haha......Seriously, on a more positive note, I have decided to quit worrying about it and stop working so hard for it. I am just going to work out and eat right and enjoy my life as it is. I'm happy with who I am, I'm content being me, and although I may not ever have a perfect body, I'm totally okay with that. I go through these periods where I'm not okay with it, but then all of a sudden I realize that really I AM content to be what and who I am.....When I remember that again I realize that I just need to relax and enjoy my life......

I know that was sort of just rambling, but anyway, that's where I am right now. I'm still working out every day, but I'm not running quite as much and I'm focusing more on yoga/cardio/weights....I feel better about myself and I do think I'm toning up a bit, but just no real weight loss progress yet.....it just takes a while and I'm tired of focusing so much on what isn't happening and I think I just need to relax and not worry about it so much.....I don't want to be so obsesive over it so I'm staying focused on working hard to tone up and then the rest will come eventually......

That's where I am....I have been keeping track of all of you too, so I'm really proud of all of your progress!!! Thanks for working hard along with me so that we can support each other a long the way.......