What's the Plan, Ann?

I have had a few people ask me lately "what are you doing? Can you share your training/ weight loss plan" 

It really is as simple as calories in vs. calories out. And I always thought I was following that rule until I started running. My running life has evolved very slowly. Walk 2 min/ Run 1 min/ Walk 2 min for 2 or 3 miles and eventually I kept adding more running minutes and less walking. That was 2 yrs ago. I still have days where I need to take a 1 min walk break here and there. Eventually, I got the runner's high and that set me off... I wanted to improve my time/ go longer distances/ avoid shin splints etc. so to do that I started doing strength training and cross training on my non-running days. Spent $10 on a Jillian Michaels dvd and joined Tribesports , got myself a set of 2lb, 3lb, 5lb dumbbells and a yoga mat for strength training. Dusted off my bike/ and kayak. Now I have the tools for burning the calories. 

I LOVE food but I knew that had to change too. I cleaned up my eating in just afew very small ways (I knew if they were drastic changes I would fail)  

1. More water. Aim for 2 to 3L a day. One or two of those drinks may end up being green tea
2. 1/2 my dinner plate is veggies 1/4 starch and 1/4 protein... Did I mention I love food? I may not adhere to this everyday but at least 5 of the 7 days a week I do. 
3. gotta have a piece of fruit a day. Or more. It's true "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" 

These simple steps have made me feel so much better. And if I go crazy with a big bowl of pasta and some wine, I am determined to burn the calories the next day. 
And my weight loss is not off the charts but I look and feel healthy than I ever have. It's not a fancy program but it is working. Notably, it is working on the stuff on the inside which is showing on the outside. 
I should mention that I set goals often and I reward myself when I reach them. This is a great motivator because sometimes my wants are greater than my needs (whose aren't?) and when I set a goal, I feel I have earned the reward. My rewards range anywhere from a pedicure to new running pants. 

Most importantly, don't give up. That is the easy way out. Anything worth having is worth the hard work!

The Mayonnaise Jar

I heard this story earlier today. I always enjoy a little perspective.

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.  

When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and fills it with golf balls.  He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.  The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured it into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.  He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES”.  The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, family,
children, health, friends, and favorite passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the things that matter like your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.” he said.

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you...” he told them.

“So... pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dripping tap. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.
The professor smiled and said, “I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”

So glad I called a friend up and encouraged her to come over and have coffee with me last night. 

It's Raining and I know it.

My brain is of two minds right now. Most of the time I feel younger than I ever have. I am more physically fit now, for the first time in my life. I love running. I enjoy a good bike ride, kayaking or strength training session. I am running my second race this coming Sunday, The Hampton 5 Miler. I am actually looking forward to October, when I will revisit Jillian Michaels's 30 Day Shred. And even though I have not lost a lot of weight- I have weighed much less in the past but never been this fit. It feels great. I feel great. I do not feel like I am 43 yrs old. 

Wellllllllll- most of the time, I don't feel 43. But when the pain in my hips, neck and shoulders is really strong, when I can't get out of the car without gritting my teeth, I can't climb the stairs or raise my coffee mug without tears welling - I don't feel 43 then, either. More like 65. Embarrassed isn't the right word, I am not sure what is. But I hate how I think I look trying to move along without a hobble. I don't want people to think I am trying to draw attention or get attention but it really hurts to walk.  

How do I run then? It hurts when I start running, oh yeah, it hurts but by the end of the first km I have worked it out a bit and I can carry on. As long as I keep moving until the run is done I am good. I take walk breaks if I need to but don't stop moving. Although, I really hate taking walk breaks. Yeah, I would say my hips hurt most of the time. For at least 2 or 3 years now and I don't think it is going away. I asked the doctor if she thought the running was making it worse. Actually I told her that my mom suggested it was making it worse. I was happy to hear that Dr. Linda didn't believe so.  Grant thinks I am a human barometer. Yes, everything is hurting tonight and oh look outside, it's raining cats and dogs. Maybe he is right? If I look back on the days I felt the worst, it's been raining or very humid. At least I know when the weather man is telling the truth.

Having it all

I lost my dad recently. I guess he had been sick for a while but didn't know it, and things went downhill rather fast.  The month has been filled with many questions. Not just the "why" and "how come" but also many questions about my own life and choices. 

One day, while sitting at my dad's bedside in the hospital, dad was sleeping and it was me and my brother there with him. We were talking about life choices, careers, etc. He said " surely, you must be making money". I said "we make enough to put food on our table, have a nice home. That's all we need. I have a beautiful child and a husband who loves me. I love my life!". Silence. My brother had no quick rebuttal to that statement. Not sure what he was thinking but I imagine he thought I would want more. I don't need to be famous or see the Seven Wonders to feel I have lived or have everything.  I don't need a designer house or a fancy car to define who I am. I have what I need.

That not to say I won't go places or see things. Maybe, someday.  

I wonder if dad felt that way. When I think of how he looked at mom even in his last days - blowing her kisses, telling her she is the most beautiful woman and how lucky he was to have her, yeah, I think dad would say he had everything too.