P2P

Couch to 5K – Just Hand Me a Cap and Gown

I think I graduated anyway.  Today I went to finish up week 8 of 9 with 28 minutes of running.  I’m still kind of slow with all the running, usually running about a 12 minute pace so I knew when I got to the final week 9 it was unlikely I’d actually make the 3 miles (5K) in the 30 minutes it had set. 

I got to 10 minutes today and really thought I might have to walk for a bit.  I hadn’t eaten much today, didn’t take any Advil, didn’t have an Energy gel and haven’t been stretching well so things were stacked against me. But if I’ve learned anything over the last 8 weeks, it’s if I push through, I can do it.  Shocking revelation, I know.  I guess Nike was right all along, Just do it!  So I did. I slowed the treadmill down from a 5.7 (10-11 min pace) slowly down to a 4.8 (12 min) and ran through it.  By 25 minutes I realized I was feeling great and decided I would run longer than the scheduled 28 minutes.  Week 9 you run 30 minutes I guess in hopes you are at a 10 min mile by that point but I wasn’t quite there.  I was already over my time though and really nothing hurt.  I was tired but my breathing was regulated so I just kept going. And for the first time, I had legit ran 3 miles.  Over 3 miles in fact.

It all started with an inspiring and INSISTENT friend

Continued with the help of an awesome iPhone app

About all ended with a tough week 4

And actually ended unexpectedly early.  I’m calling myself a graduate.  I have gone from my Couch to a 5K.

I don’t HATE running now.  I don’t love it like I do spinning still but it’s amazing how my body has adjusted.  Everything on me used to hurt when I ran but today, nothing but a little pain in my left hip.  My ankles which always felt like they might dislocate my feet from my body are now stronger.  My shins which would ache don’t give me any trouble.  The burning in my calves is gone.  My breathing is easier to control.  I guess it figured out that I was serious about this running thing.

Now I haven’t won any races or even signed up for any races but I really want to do a few thank-you’s for getting this far.  Just imagine me on-stage with the music playing and Kanye sitting in the crowd ready to interrupt.

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I want to thank Melissa and my dad for being the runners they are and inspiring and encouraging me.  C25K app creators for making all the cues easier and TrySports Charlotte for setting me up with some fabulous equipment and doling out spot-on advice.  I’d like to thank my family for letting me have time away to take care of myself.  And yes, God, thanks for the well-being, means, and strength for getting me through.

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So what’s next?  I think a spinning class is in order to be honest!  Melissa promised me a piece of chocolate cake at graduation back in week 4.  And yes, I think I’ll keep running.  Maybe even run a few races this Spring.  But even if I don’t know, at least I know for a fact I CAN!  And more importantly, if I can, you can too!  Go get started!

Couch to 5K – 6 Week Check-in

Thought I published this yesterday…

What you see there is all I have left to do before graduation.  The walk breaks are over.  I am running.

Week 4 was hands down the turning point for me.  That week we began 5 minute runs and it beat me down pretty bad.  I would kill for 5 minute intervals now.  But I guess that’s what training is all about.

I know I said it here before but stretching, hydrating, energy gels and podcasts (and Melissa) have all saved me in this program.

I did do something different today for my first 25 minute stretch that I wanted to throw out there.  You seasoned runners will be pleased. I know I said I hated running outside but today I went to run at the local walking park.  Scott and the kids packed a lunch and played on the playground and I ran.  It was 55F and just a beautiful day.  I found the time went faster and it was easier to adjust my pace (from really slow to much slower).  And of course, I loved having my family nearby.  Emma even ran out to give me my water bottle once.  With the weather not permanently nice, I’m sure I’ll be going back to the treadmill but I have to say I’ll definitely be giving it more of a chance come Spring especially now that I’m doing longer runs.

I can’t say yet that I like running.  I like that I’ve completed 6 weeks of training. I like that I’ve improved during those 6 weeks tremendously.  I like that I’m exercising consistently.  I like that a 5K doesn’t seem like an unachievable goal.  I especially like that I’m not gaining weight anymore (although I’ve only lost 1.5lbs in the past 6wks).  But running?  Nah.  Give me a stationary bike in the dark at the Y for an hour any day.

Couch to 5K – Halfway Done

I know I just posted about this but I wanted to officially declare myself halfway done with the program.  Yesterday morning I had a great run, finishing up week 4 of 9.  And after the first of week 4 I really didn’t think I’d say that again.  I did make a few changes that I thought were worth talking about.

1. I stretched and stretched and stretched and used The Stick liberally for the 2 days prior to the run.
2. I used these energy goo things Melissa bought me for Christmas 15 minutes before the run.  It’s hard to tell if it helped but it is one thing I added.  I also determined that vanilla gingerbread probably isn’t my favorite flavor.
3. I listened to a podcast versus music during the run.

I think the last surprisingly made the biggest difference.  I love music and I love spinning/cycling to music.  It’s the main reason I love my favorite spinning instructor.  He always makes sure we are peddling to the beat of the music.  But running to music?  It has just NOT been working for me, especially since I’m switching between run and walk all the time.  I found with listening to the podcast, I simply listened.  It was easier to not pay attention to the running and I wasn’t using a ton of energy trying to keep up or slow down with the beat of the music.

For you runners…what else am I missing?  What flavor of the energy gel is your favorite?

For you non-runners, when are you starting C25K??

C25K – Update at Week 4

I haven’t posted too much here on my Couch to 5K progress.  It basically goes Amy complains about running, she huffs and puffs and hurts through a run and then comes back, pats herself on the back by posting the completion on Facebook and then complains about how long the next run is.  There has been absolutely nothing glamorous about it.  I don’t enjoy it.  I haven’t had any epiphanies. I still don’t like running.  So there’s that.

There’s this little list in my C25K iPhone app and it has checkmarks up through Week 4, Day 2 and I can not make myself not check the next one off.  But this week I’ve been very, very close to quitting.  I posted on Twitter that Week 4 looked scary.  And it was.  I thought maybe it was my imagination.  Maybe I hadn’t eaten enough.  Maybe I had too many rest days in between because of the holidays.  Because man, that was tough.

But I found out that most people quit in Week 4 or 5.  After searching a bunch of the C25K forums, it turns out that a lot of people said just get through Week 4 and you’re good.

So this week for me isn’t just having fun with an iPhone app or trying out running.  To me this week is do or die.  Am I going to quit this C25K thing or feel like I’m going to die trying?  Because you don’t put your body through what I’ve gone through the last two workouts just because you’re playing around.

Last night Melissa got me into her gym and she did the whole program with me.  She even matched my cadence for some of the running and walked when I walked.  Something that she, as a marathoner, really didn’t have to do.  She doesn’t know it, but a lot of times when I’m at the gym and I just don’t think I can run anymore, I imagine her on the treadmill to my right.  And Dad’s on my left.  And even sometimes Melissa’s brother and sister join us.  It sounds stupid but it helps to know there are others that have gone before me and were right where I was.  And if they can run for miles without dying and even enjoying it, I can too.  So last night when Melissa was actually running beside me, I can’t tell you how much it helped.  At the end, I simply had to watch her run and somehow tell my body just to do the same thing because I couldn’t do it by myself.

As today is New Year’s Eve I feel it’s pretty appropriate for me to choose to go for it.  Make it my goal to finish this thing.  I should be done the first week of February.  I have no idea if or when I’ll run a 5K.  I’m honestly ok if I never do one but I don’t think Melissa is going to let me NOT do one. 

I found this quote here and laughed so hard.  It’s pretty much where I am with this whole thing.

"I run. At least, that’s what I am telling myself. It’s actually more of a "continued forward motion at a semi-consistent pace while praying I don’t die" kind of activity."

But that’s ok.  I’m still going to check all the checkmarks, publish all the Facebook posts and hopefully by February continue in a forward motion at a semi-consistent pace while praying I don’t die for 30 minutes in a row.

Running: Treadmill vs. Open Road

For the first time since starting the Couch to 5K (and maybe my life outside of High School gym class), I ran outside.  We don’t live in a large neighborhood and the streets outside our neighborhood have bad curves near them and no sidewalks.  But we do live near a very large neighborhood/area of town that has sidewalks everywhere.  So I parked at the emergency care center in the area and took off.  I didn’t really have a plan of where I was running.  If a street looked like a big hike, I’d wait for the next one.  If one street looked like it was getting too steep, I simply turned around.  I didn’t have much of a plan.  So did I miss my treadmill?

• The Hills: The neighborhood was much more hilly than I thought.  At the gym, I’m still running on a flat treadmill and it was very hard for me uphill.  The very worst is when I spent my recovery on a hill and when I was supposed to run my big 3 minutes (HA), I was not at all prepared to do so.  Running that last leg was really hard.
• The Paraphernalia:  Once I got out of the car I realized that I really didn’t have a good place for my water bottle or keys.  I ended up leaving my water bottle and of course had to stick my keys in my jacket pocket.  Thankfully it was cold outside and I had a jacket that had pockets.  Also my phone was a bit of an issue.  I don’t have a running band for it so I ended up holding it the whole time.   I do like checking in on my time on my C25K app though so I think an armband might have been even harder to maneuver so I could see it.
• Time: I did find I was looking a lot less at my phone to count down the seconds until I could stop and I found the minutes went by so much faster.  The hard part about the time was timing my return to my car.  Because I didn’t follow the same back as I did going, I actually had to walk a little extra to get back.
• Weather: It was probably 35-40F when I ran this morning.  Without much experience in running, I wasn’t entirely sure what to wear.  I ended up with my yoga pants, long-sleeved undershirt and my hoodie as well as fingerless gloves and hat.  I was surprised to find that by the end, I was hot and actually enjoyed the cooler weather.  However, I wouldn’t say it was entirely enjoyable either.

So what will I do on my next run?

I’m going back to the treadmill. 

I know all you runners are already wanting to scroll down to the comments and tell me I’m crazy.  But here’s the thing.  The treadmill provides consistency, something as a beginner I enjoy and almost need.  I know exactly what to wear, have a place for my things, don’t have to think about where to run and don’t get stuck on hills that zap me of my already low energy.  Not to mention the gym provides other equipment to work on ab and arm work after the run.  While I did enjoy the scenery and a sense of pride knowing I was one of those runners on the road I so often pass, it just wasn’t enough for me at this point.  I think if I could get a water belt and have a very flat route mapped out, I would be much more inclined to run outside again.  Until then, it’s back to the gym for me.

Come on Get Higher

Something weird happened in cycling class today.  I don’t know if it’s something similar to a runner’s high.  In fact, I don’t even know what runner’s high is exactly.  Pretty sure I haven’t encountered that one yet.  But 2 minutes into the class, I was smiling.  Almost laughing.  I was so happy to be in class.  About 35 minutes into class, we started a 9 minute song.  All a consistent cadence out of the seat.  9 minutes.  Pretty sure I’d never done one of those.  About 3 minutes into it I found a great rhythm.  My arms were relaxed, my breathing was steady, my head swung back and forth easily.  I was in some sort of pocket.  And when that song was over?  I cried into my towel.  Not for long because we are off on another 3 minute song.  I don’t know what you call crying into a towel in spinning that but I’m ok with it.  I felt GOOD walking out of there tonight.

Day 30 of Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred

I did it!  Technically I’m 32 days in but I skipped 2 days.  Overall, I’m giving this video a big thumbs up.  Was it fun?  No.  Was it hard? Yes.  Did I want to skip it every day?  Yes.  Did I want to punch Jillian in the face?  Yes.  But do I feel great after 30 days?  You bet.

And more than that, I have some results.

Weight

Overall, I only lost 2 lbs.  I know, some of you can poop and get rid of that but I tend to sit in between two clothing sizes and just a few pounds makes a difference on whether I can zip a pair of pants or not.  So yes, 2 lbs means a lot to me.  However, I really wanted another 3lbs. The DVD says 20lbs in a month which is ridiculous to promise with so many body types.

Size

I have no idea on my measurements.  I didn’t take them. But I can tell a difference in my size in only one place.  My abs.  If I squeeze real tight and lean the right way, I have what appears to be the start of a six pack.  I’m not plastering a picture of my abs on here but click here if you’d like to see some real-life results.  I couldn’t produce any of those “indentions” 30 days ago.

Strength

With every level and even within every level I saw improvements.  Day 1, I didn’t even use weights for any of the arm exercises.  I could barely pass on push ups and now I can do the traveling push ups (still on my knees) way past what she makes you do on Level 3.  I was doing what could barely pass as lunges but can now do the jump lunges in Level 3.  I can feel more strength in my thighs and actually can feel where my abs are engaging to make the process easier.  Same for those push ups.  Who knew you used your abs for push ups??  So basically, yeah, I’m stronger.

Endurance

Day 1, I was huffing and puffing right into the 20 minutes.  I remember Heather walking in at the end of the exercise and said “BREATHE!”  The workout is still, well, working me out, but the cardio doesn’t wear me out like it was.

Flexibility

I’m amazed at how you can be flexible, quit working out for a year and your body completely forgets what it was doing.  Day 1 I could barely touch my toes during the stretches.  Now, I can lay my head down on my knee to stretch.  That’s about the only way I know how to describe how much more flexible I am.  I wouldn’t say I’m a flexible person in the least but I CAN say I’m MORE flexible.

What I liked about the workout:

My favorite part was it was 20 minutes.  That seriously is the only thing that kept me going for 30 days. I found that about an hour after dinner was the best time for me to work out.

I liked the workout was pretty flexible.  You were allowed to move up to the new level when you wanted and they offered the easy version for many of the exercises.  I found that I was sticking with the easy exercises for several days.  And I’m actually still on the easy exercises for a few in Level 3.  I’m very interested to go back to Level 1 and 2 to see if I can do everything at the max.

I liked that there was no fancy equipment.  I ended up doing the last two weeks of the video in my room that has carpet so all I needed was my weights.

What I didn’t like

What can I say?  Besides the payoff, working out isn’t much fun.  I’d be ok if I never heard Jillian say  “hit the deck” again.  And I thought she might make out with “her girl Nat” she kept praising her so much which became annoying.  But really I don’t have any major issues with the video.

What’s Next

I think I’ll continue with the video.  Like I said, I’d like to go back to Level 1 and 2 and maybe keep up with “her girl Nat” the whole time.  Maybe I’ll alternate the levels every day.

Overall, I’m pleased and will be recommending it!

Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred

The wonderful meals I had last week in Indy did not go unnoticed by my scale or clothes.  I took a skirt to wear and couldn’t zip it.  Yikes!  I had ordered the 30 Day Shred DVD before I left for Indy and I was never so pumped to get back to exercising Saturday.

When I was going to the gym, I had gotten used to the advanced 1 hour classes and when I was done within 20 minutes of workout Saturday that only included about 6 minutes of cardio, I was thinking I had gotten off easily.  But by mid afternoon I was starting to feel a little sore.  By Sunday morning, I could barely walk.  Knowing if I just pushed through, I’d be ok, I continued every day with the workouts.  But I was still really hurting into Monday.  Tuesday I woke up 90% better though.  It was like magic!

I’m pretty sure it’s doing something.  At times, my muscles have definitely felt shredded.  I have lost about 2 lbs since Saturday.  But I have to say usually I don’t lose weight by exercise alone.  It’s usually all about the snacking.  I’ve buckled back down on my Isagenix shakes and cut out the late night snacking which is always my Achilles’ heel.  I just think about the scale in the morning and I’m more apt to choose a handful of almonds over a bowl of ice cream.  Not to say I don’t give myself a treat.  I was happy to eat the chocolate chunk cookie Scott brought me from Starbucks yesterday afternoon.

The thing is though that when I’m exercising, I always, always eat better.  Eating bad makes me feel like my exercise was all for naught.  So for me, they go hand in hand.

One thing that is hilarious though is the girls have really gotten into this.  They love when I pull my mat out and have started doing the exercises with me.  On Tuesday, they insisted on doing the workout by themselves.  And Lexi did NOT want me watching.  I thought for sure they’d bow out early but they did everything start to finish.  I did sneak  a few pictures and video but at the time they didn’t have clothes on except their underwear *ahem* so I don’t really want to YouTube that.  So anyway, just trust me when I say it was HILARIOUS.  Here is a peek at them stretching though.  So cute!

Getting back in the saddle, er, on the elliptical

At the end of 2007 we ended our membership at the gym.  We bought an elliptical and I did really well at first.  Then I got the flu some time in February or March and I really haven’t put more than an hour on it since.  And I don’t think I’m stretching the truth there.

I really have missed working out though.  I sleep better, I feel better, I eat better.  And if you don’t remember only one year working out alone, I lowered my cholesterol by 30 points.  I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s back up now.

So this weekend I randomly had Scott move our elliptical into the living room behind the couch.  Not as pretty but at least I can see the TV and be with people now.  Maybe it’s the change, but I’ve been on four days in a row!  I’m making horrible time and not lasting very long but I’m back in the saddle!

Isagenix Cleanse Day 2

Yesterday was definitely easier on the cleanse.  The cleansing drink wasn’t nearly as bad.  In fact, by last night, it was starting to taste kind of good.  I didn’t seem nearly as hungry and I was kind of in the groove of it.  But yes, I was hungry and food looked very yummy.  But I guess I’m saying it wasn’t as hard as I thought.

This morning I was not tired but I was very shaky and weak.  I almost didn’t have the energy to get ready.  Even after I sit here 30 minutes after drinking my shake my hands are still shaky.  But I get like that normally when I don’t eat so I’m not surprised.  And really, I haven’t had a real meal for almost 36 hours so I’m surprised it’s taken this long to feel that way.

Results surprised me today.  I was down another 1.5lbs from yesterday which puts me a whole pound under my “magic number”.  Also I’ve lost (with conservative measurements) 1″ in my waist in the past week.

I’m sure once I start eating actual food it will go back up.  My plans are to go out for lunch and eat a nice, big (balanced) meal.  I can’t wait!

I talked to my rep last night and we agreed if my weight stayed down where I like, that I would go ahead and switch to one milkshake a day instead of two like I planned and I’ll officially be on their maintenance program.  It feels good to know my body is supposedly cleansed and I’m getting all the right vitamins every day!

Isagenix Cleanse – Day 1

So yesterday was my first ever cleanse day.  Here’s basically what happens…you drink 4 oz of their fruit/veggie cleansing juice 4 times a day.  I drank it at 8:30, 12, 3 and 7.  In between, you can have one of their little chocolate “morsels” or a handful of almonds to keep your sugar levels up. Oh, and you also have to down the water like crazy.  Some because you are hungry but they do tell you to drink more than your normal amount.

How I Feel

First off, that cleansing drink is nasty.  Not as nasty as their “ionic” drink you have to take every day but at least that is only 1 oz.  I figured out though that it is easier to chug the 4oz of cleansing drink rather than try to mix it with 8 oz of water like it suggests.  That was pure torture.  The almonds and chocolates helped a bunch.  I found I didn’t get too hungry at all until my normal snack time around 2:30.  The rest of the evening I found myself on the light side of hungry.  It was hard to fix dinner for everyone and not eat.  But I wasn’t to the point where my stomach was growling and I was just about to faint with hunger…which literally happens with me even normally.  It’s just that feeling…I really could eat something right now but not starving feeling.  I wasn’t tired though. I thought without a good meal I’d be really tired but I wasn’t.  I even went to bed a little late last night and easily woke up this morning.

The Results

The numbers are looking good…I’ve lost a total of 2 lbs since last Wednesday when I started.  I went down 1/2 lbs over yesterday.  As I’ve said, I’m not really doing this for the weight loss but if I get down another 1/2 lbs, I’ll be at that “magic number” I’ve always had for myself and I haven’t been at in about three years.  I can DEFINITELY tell a difference that I’ve lost.  Scott has definitely noticed which if you read this, that means a lot.  And according to another rough measurement by my iPhone cord, I’ve lost at least 3/4″ in my waist–which is where all my weight gain always goes!

TMI

Most people want to know about what’s coming out….besides running to the bathroom a lot because of the water, nothing else was out of the ordinary which means for me, going 1 time a day.  I thought for sure I’d be in the bathroom all day. I don’t know if this has something to do with the fact that I had switched to all natural products for a month before doing this or it’s common or what but I always assumed you’d be going a lot during a cleansing.

Anyway, that’s about it.  Today I feel more hungry than yesterday.  Technically I haven’t had a meal since Sunday at lunch since I chose to do my second shake at dinner on Sunday instead of lunch.  Not really good planning there on my part.  I’m already planning my meal for tomorrow.

I do wish there was a way to tell if this has helped clear out the toxins in my body.  Honestly, I do like seeing the numbers on the scale changing but my ultimate goal was to get cleansed and unfortunately I don’t know!  Anyone have a clue?

BTW, Isagenix’s site has a bunch of info on what I’m doing.  Let me know if you are interested though b/c I think I do get credits or something if someone uses my referral.  NOT why I’m posting this though.

Isagenix – Day 1 Summarized

So yesterday I started Isagenix.  Once again, I’m on their Total Health and Wellness Plan which basically means maintenance nutritional cleansing and not aggressive weight loss.  Heather is doing the other plan if you want to follow her.  Except I’m on the fast track because I want to be done by the time I go to NY for the Hot Blogger Calendar.  Which means I have to drink two of their shakes a day and then one normal meal as well as take some fruit juice thing and their vitamins.  I survived day 1 and ended up down 1/2 lb already (which I’m NOT supposed to be looking at the scale but sshhhh.  Heather was down 2.5lbs this morning.  My mom has lost 8-9lbs in a few weeks).  I will probably reduce to one milkshake a day if I keep losing because I don’t have that much to lose.  Here are my initial thoughts:

• The milkshakes are bland and too thick for my taste but I’m not coughing it down.  Adding less ice was better.  I’m glad after two weeks, I only have to drink one a day.  I can handle that.
• The fruit juice thing is NASTY.  Glad I only have to drink 1 oz. of it.
• I feel good taking vitamins. I should have been doing that all along.
• I’ve been drinking a TON of water.  Not because I’m supposed to but because I’m THIRSTY.  She says this is normal.
• Their chocolate candy bars are bearable but not great.
• I’m not looking forward to the full cleanse days when you don’t eat any solids.

So are you just raring to go on this plan??  I think it’s going to be good but I’m not raving over it yet.  I keep reminding myself that I’m doing this for the health benefit and there’s no good way to measure how cleansed my body is. I just have to trust it’s doing it’s job.   So day 1 down, 13 to go.

Back on Weight Watchers…

…at least for a few days weeks…after several days weeks of eating whatever I felt like, it’s time to strap down and lose a few.  So there.  I’m saying it out loud so I feel bad when I eat something I shouldn’t.

So far today all I’ve had is coffee (I had that iced coffee from McD’s and asked for an extra shot of vanilla and it was GOOD), a salad and a small cup of milk.

And I’ve GOT to get back on the elliptical.  I don’t think I’ve spent more than 6 minutes on my elliptical since I had the flu several weeks months ago.

Do you get the feeling I’m in denial about how bad my diet and exercise is??

The proof is in the numbers

This is what we like to see…

Not that 323 calories burned even accounts for the ice cream sundae I devoured this evening but it’s progress.  And hey, it’s good for my heart!

It did feel really good to have worked out again.  Seeing that it’s almost midnight and I’m still blogging, I don’t think it’s helping much with my sleep yet but Heather says I should give it more than a day…

The gym – check

So I made it to the gym today.  Honestly, I didn’t like this 24 hour gym nearly as much as the Y.  There were some plusses. 

• It was a short walk in.  This is situated in a shopping strip instead of the huge building and parking lot the Y has.  It was nice that when I forgot something in my van (twice) all I had to do was take a couple steps out on the sidewalk.
• I was the only one in there.  No one to distract me or compare myself to.
• It has TVs built into to every machine.  I got to watch a decorating show and Hogan Knows Best uninterrupted.  Big plus.
• It’s cheaper than the Y.
• It’s open 24-7.

But I don’t like…

• There is no childcare.
• I didn’t like the elliptical machines as well.  There was no option for incline.  Not as many metrics on there as the Precor ones at the Y.
• There are no classes.
• And the Y has a TON more other things for the family to do.  But honestly, we never really used any of it, so I probably shouldn’t
• use that in my comparison.

I don’t know, it’s almost twice as much at the Y but it includes childcare.  So I’m not really sure which way I’m going to.  I have a free week trial so that gives me at least a little bit of time to decide.