13 minutes today! That's 2 minutes off of day one. It's nice to see some progress, though I've been told I shouldn't be surprised if for a while I don't improve.
I tried really hard today to focus on breathing properly, and it actually helped a lot. It kept away the worst of that flames-in-the-back of the throat pain, and it gave me something to think about other than how much I wanted to walk instead. I felt like a tiny, underpowered, retarded locomotive, just slowly puffing along.
Something I need to work on is drinking more water. I have this huge, glorious, obnoxiously green Nalgene bottle that holds 32 ounces...if I could just bring myself to drink the whole thing twice a day, that would do the trick. Most days I only get through about a third of it, which I know is not nearly enough.
Oh, and confession time. Yesterday James and I gorged on Wendy's...neither of us were feeling very strong, and we haven't been able to do real grocery shopping in a while because of the bizarre hours I've been working. We're going to try not to do it again anytime soon, and probably hit the commissary tonight for real food.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Easy to get going, hard to stay in motion
Today was harder, and I'm not sure why. It was easy to actually go out and get started, just tough to keep running. It was really tempting to stop and walk...or even better, to stop and lie down on the concrete until some pitying passerby tucked me in for a nap. I slogged through it, but I didn't want to.
I'm also not sure how long it took me today, as I forgot to glance at the clock on my way out. Oops. I actually feel like I was moving a little quicker, but if so, that's more because I can't pace myself well than because the running is getting easier. Ah well.
I went with a friend to Ben and Jerry's yesterday and got a smoothie instead of ice cream...I'm sure there's still a good deal of sugar in the mango sorbet they use to make it, but at least the rest was real juice and fruit. It made me miss Hawaii, and the smoothie bar they had at the gym. It was really neat, because you could add protein powders and such...and even though they used the same pre-made smoothie mix that Cal U used, it somehow tasted better. Then again, probably everything tastes better under palm trees and next to a pool.
Today we're taking our Christmas tree out to Onslow Beach. Apparently they collect them to make sand traps, in order to keep the dunes from eroding. I'm really glad, because when I lived with my parents we always took our tree down to the edge of the forest, where it could decay naturally...I've hated the idea of just tossing our tree in the dumpster. The poor thing was cut down just so it could decorate my home, a job it has performed nobly and admirably...it seems a bit rude just to throw it in a bin and wait for the trash man to collect it. I'm happy it can be recycled and reused instead.
I'm also not sure how long it took me today, as I forgot to glance at the clock on my way out. Oops. I actually feel like I was moving a little quicker, but if so, that's more because I can't pace myself well than because the running is getting easier. Ah well.
I went with a friend to Ben and Jerry's yesterday and got a smoothie instead of ice cream...I'm sure there's still a good deal of sugar in the mango sorbet they use to make it, but at least the rest was real juice and fruit. It made me miss Hawaii, and the smoothie bar they had at the gym. It was really neat, because you could add protein powders and such...and even though they used the same pre-made smoothie mix that Cal U used, it somehow tasted better. Then again, probably everything tastes better under palm trees and next to a pool.
Today we're taking our Christmas tree out to Onslow Beach. Apparently they collect them to make sand traps, in order to keep the dunes from eroding. I'm really glad, because when I lived with my parents we always took our tree down to the edge of the forest, where it could decay naturally...I've hated the idea of just tossing our tree in the dumpster. The poor thing was cut down just so it could decorate my home, a job it has performed nobly and admirably...it seems a bit rude just to throw it in a bin and wait for the trash man to collect it. I'm happy it can be recycled and reused instead.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Silly lungs, you're not supposed to be made of fire
Day two was a success. Did my mile run again, and managed to shave a minute off of that ugly 15...I think when I get it to a somewhat reasonable time, I'll start trying to go further. Baby steps...lets master that mile first.
The problem with me running is not so much the muscle pain...that sucks, but I've always had pretty strong legs, and I can ignore the ache. The problem is that I run 20 feet, and my lungs and throat instantly feel as if I've been guzzling molten steel. Maybe I need to figure out how to breathe properly or something. It's probably more likely that I just have zero endurance, and only time and practice will fix it.
I'm thinking about grabbing a stability ball next time I'm at the store. I'm going to try to accumulate exercise equipment piece-meal, so the cost doesn't make me want to puke. Eventually, I want to get a couple of kettlebells and one of those rubbery resistance bands.
Oh, and for what it's worth, I'm two days clean from soda or sweet tea. I'm not saying I'm going to quit either of them forever...but still, not drinking them daily and by the gallon is kind of a big deal for me. I've started drinking at least one big glass of coconut milk every day. I hate regular milk, but coconut milk is pretty tasty...and it has a lot less calories, and a lot more calcium. Which my nutritionist friend tells me is not very important when compared with magnesium, but still. It gives me a warm fuzzy to drink something with calcium on the label, since I avoid milk like the plague.
The problem with me running is not so much the muscle pain...that sucks, but I've always had pretty strong legs, and I can ignore the ache. The problem is that I run 20 feet, and my lungs and throat instantly feel as if I've been guzzling molten steel. Maybe I need to figure out how to breathe properly or something. It's probably more likely that I just have zero endurance, and only time and practice will fix it.
I'm thinking about grabbing a stability ball next time I'm at the store. I'm going to try to accumulate exercise equipment piece-meal, so the cost doesn't make me want to puke. Eventually, I want to get a couple of kettlebells and one of those rubbery resistance bands.
Oh, and for what it's worth, I'm two days clean from soda or sweet tea. I'm not saying I'm going to quit either of them forever...but still, not drinking them daily and by the gallon is kind of a big deal for me. I've started drinking at least one big glass of coconut milk every day. I hate regular milk, but coconut milk is pretty tasty...and it has a lot less calories, and a lot more calcium. Which my nutritionist friend tells me is not very important when compared with magnesium, but still. It gives me a warm fuzzy to drink something with calcium on the label, since I avoid milk like the plague.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Here we go again...
Today was day one. After a lot of hesitation and dilly-dallying, I finally threw on the workout clothes and went for a run. It was only a mile...and I think it took me 15 minutes. Go on, giggle. I know how pitiful that is. But hey, day one...at least it was a start.
Yesterday I got a really neat cookbook at Barnes and Noble. "Cook This, Not That." It's by the same people that do the article on Yahoo news...you know, the one that we all read daily and then head to the bathroom for a good old fashioned toothbrush-down-the-throat purge. Damn you Starbucks, and your 800 calorie peppermint mocha...anyway, it has a lot of really tasty-looking recipes, that use normal ingredients, and doesn't try to get me to do crazy things like hide broccoli puree in cinnamon buns. I'm really excited to try some of it out. Luckily, James is on board with this since he loves to cook.
If you haven't guessed it yet, my New Year's resolution is to exercise more and eat healthier. I'm getting a jump start on it, because waiting until 2012 to start is really just an excuse not to start at all. And I'm broadcasting it on facebook and the internet, because I'm hoping a sense of shame that everyone will know if I go back to sitting on the couch and eating french fries will keep me motivated.
Oh, and by the way...it's about half an hour after that run, and my legs feel like lead. I'm pretty sure being this out of shape should be a crime.
Yesterday I got a really neat cookbook at Barnes and Noble. "Cook This, Not That." It's by the same people that do the article on Yahoo news...you know, the one that we all read daily and then head to the bathroom for a good old fashioned toothbrush-down-the-throat purge. Damn you Starbucks, and your 800 calorie peppermint mocha...anyway, it has a lot of really tasty-looking recipes, that use normal ingredients, and doesn't try to get me to do crazy things like hide broccoli puree in cinnamon buns. I'm really excited to try some of it out. Luckily, James is on board with this since he loves to cook.
If you haven't guessed it yet, my New Year's resolution is to exercise more and eat healthier. I'm getting a jump start on it, because waiting until 2012 to start is really just an excuse not to start at all. And I'm broadcasting it on facebook and the internet, because I'm hoping a sense of shame that everyone will know if I go back to sitting on the couch and eating french fries will keep me motivated.
Oh, and by the way...it's about half an hour after that run, and my legs feel like lead. I'm pretty sure being this out of shape should be a crime.
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