Why Don't I Feel Full?

Today, I'm writing about two topics that have brought me some concern over the past month. One of them I found to be challenging, yet rewarding and doable. The other is still a concern.

On nutrition:
Over the past month or two, I've experienced a day or two per week during which I could not get full. It seems like no matter how much or what type of food I eat, my blood sugar is still low. It's not just hunger pangs; it's more like I can't regulate my blood sugar or fill my stomach sufficiently. Finally, I decided it was bothering me enough to see my PCP about it.
I'm not a big fan of going to the doctor, particularly when needles are involved. I don't have a fear of needles, per se, but they give me the willies. So you can imagine I am not stoked for an appointment before which I cannot eat (yikes!), and at which I know beforehand they will be drawing blood. Double yikes!
I'm a little worried about what my doctor will say, but I'm armed with lots of possible causes (e.g. returning to omnivorism, frequent cardio exercise, "lady business" troubles and comorbid recurring BC problems [which could contribute to anemia], insufficient protein and/or iron consumption... the list goes on). Truth be told, I'm kind of terrified that my doctor will tell me that all of my hard work, meticulous planning, and expensive health-conscious purchases aren't doing my body good. That, or that I have actually been harming my body...
Both Ian and my mom, in their infinite wisdom, have offered tons of helpful suggestions and assured me that I'm doing the right thing. My appointment is Friday at 9:00. Fingers crossed for good news!

On planks:

Remember when I challenged myself to complete a plank a day for the month of September? Well, my blends, I did one plank every single day for 27 days, and I forgot on the 28th day. Consequently, I completed two one-minute planks on Sept. 29th, and I rounded out the month nicely. Obviously, I can't report that I've sprouted a six-pack, but I can say that planks get easier the more you do them. The first few days, I thought I was going to collapse. I've done planks sporadically before, but doing one a day seemed like it would be the death of me when I first began. Now, I'm thinking that making a plank-a-day part of my daily routine isn't a half-bad idea! It's an easy way to throw some ab work as well as some controlled breathing into my day without really having to plan.

I'll be back tomorrow with updates. As my dad says, happy teeny-Friday!
P.S. Countdown to the Vinton 5k: 9 days!!

A Little Bit Like Forrest

In sixth grade, I was required to Run The Mile for the first time in my life. I remember being absolutely flabbergasted when Mr. Cifarelli announced that I had completed those four GD laps in 8:08. It had felt like an eternity, and yet I don't remember the run being particularly difficult. Just wait, A.K. It gets worse.

 

At my high school, gym class was only required through 10th grade in order to incorporate Driver's Ed., as well as one last attempt at Family Life. I took Advanced P.E. in 11th and 12th grades for a bit of "exercise." I'm going to use that term loosely, because it was mostly my mouth that got exercise. Even then, we were still required to Run The Mile.

 

During the spring of my junior year, my friend Tiffany and I were positively dreading the mile. She smoked like a chimney, and I wasn't in any kind of shape for "distance" running. We agreed to run the straights and walk the curves of the gravel track outlining the football field. We began at the same pace, but Tiffany took off and I was left in her dust. I think I finished in under 15 minutes, but there were only 2 people finishing behind me. My classmates had been standing around for some time, wondering what was next on the agenda. Big whoop, Troy. I pretty much decided then and there that running was NOT for me.

 

At Longwood, undergrads are required to take one Physical Education course. I picked one my first semester (to get it out of the way) called Basic Activities or some crap. We dabbled in tennis, dodgeball, military drills... whatever whimsical notion crossed my teacher's warped mind. We didn't do much running, so I was off the hook again.

 

When I moved into an apartment for my junior and senior years, I decided--after a few months of prodding encouragement by one of my roommates and a gnawing sense of guilt--to check out the fitness facility the complex offered.

via

Small is definitely not an understatement, but it basically suited my purposes. I could crank up Saved By the Bell, crank out a few miles power-walking, and examine the weight machines without feeling scrutinized. I did what I thought was running, but I found out how ill-prepared I was for my sorority's annual Miles 4 Smiles 5k event that my dad "ran" with me during the spring of my senior year. I doubt I even jogged half of the damn thing. I was also foolishly allowing my brain to believe that my body was losing weight and that I was taking care of myself... between bites of thin-crust pineapple and onion Papa John's and sips of PBR.

 

Finally, when I moved into my current apartment 13 months ago, I decided to make permanent changes in my fitness, my diet, and my lifestyle. Things have only gone uphill since! I celebrated every new distance milestone and every new pound lifted. I recorded everything meticulously, and I continually set new goals and challenges for myself. I don't know when one can consider herself "A Runner," but I do know that running is a sport that provides me freedom, pride, health, challenge, and spirit.

Maybe that's what a runner's high truly is -- "I just felt like runnin'." Everyone says I'll know it when I experience it, so maybe I'm looking for it too hard. Maybe I'll find my true runner's high when I least expect it.

 

Until then... have an excellent Thursday, blends!



Training with Dad

My dad is the only person who will train for races with me. I say "races," though the only race I've ever run was the Susan G. Komen 5k back in May.

We have a 5k next month at Smith Mountain Lake, though! I also say "train with me," though we're working separately toward the same goal: finishing in 35 minutes. Initially when Dad suggested this, I thought, uhhh... But honestly, it's the coolest thing ever that he's training for a race that I wanted to run. We were supposed to compete in Color Me Rad, but that's a whole 'nother story. This race is to make up for not being able to compete in that race due to procrastination and full registration.

 

Dad texted me yesterday: Doing a little work for the 5k. Power walk and x-country run. I replied, I ran 2.5 miles today! Look at us training :)

 

I usually finish a 5k run around 39:00 on the dreadmill. Dad had told me that the excitement of the race and my adrenaline would leave me feeling as though 3.1 miles had passed in no time flat, and that I would likely finish under 39:00. He was exactly right! At our 5k in May, I was pleasantly surprised to finish at around 37:00.

 

If it weren't for his enthusiasm and his spirit about staying fit, I doubt I would have enough inspiration within myself to set a lofty goal of finishing in 35:00. Nevertheless, 35 minutes is the goal, and I'm stickin' to it!

This one goes out to you, Dad -- thanks for being my training partner, my race buddy, my cheering section, my supporter and encourager, and my source of excitement about exercise!

 

Now, I just need to muster up the enthusiasm to hit the gym this morning...

 

P.S. What type of goal do you set before you compete? My goal for the Susan Komen race was simply to run the entire distance. Truly, it was one of my proudest accomplishments.

I'm Officially a Runner!

It's finally here!!

Race day dawned sunny and cool -- and early. When I was a little girl, I was all about early. These days, before 10:00, you might as well not bother. Regardless, the race began at 9:00. That meant I was up at 7, out the door with Dad and Caroline at 7:45. To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Dad reminded me last night that my body has been conditioned to run; my greatest challenge would be in my mind. Quickly as I ate my cereal and my Chobani, I created a playlist on my iPod of hip-hop songs and good beats (Mann, Cobra StarShip, Sam Tsui, DNC, Jay Sean, New Boyz, Nicki Minaj, etc.). I have to say, I don't think I could have run the entire 5k without my music.

The three of us began the race abreast. After a few minutes, Dad and I broke away from the pack. He ran with me for 2.5 miles. He touched my shoulder shortly after we passed the two-mile mark and said, "I'm going to finish the race with Caroline. You have less than half a mile left. You're gonna do it!" I gave him a thumbs up and I was on my own. His support was all I needed to finish strong. That last half-mile flew by, particularly the huge downhill slope, and the last segment that I sprinted. Just when I thought my legs couldn't handle much more, I found my second wind and I crossed the finish line with the biggest, goofiest grin:

I finished in 37:39.4 (the time on the right began when the competition runners crossed the start line; I timed myself from start line to finish line). Photo thanks goes to my wonderful man, Ian.

Dad and Caroline finished about 8 minutes after I did. I was so thrilled to be able to see them cross the finish line!

Being handed that medal was, without a doubt, the highlight of my day. I knew that I would finish the race, but I felt as if that pink and gold medal signified specifically for me that I had run the entire race without stopping once!

We ate brunch at 3rd Street Diner afterward. My short stack of blueberry pancakes and apple juice hit the spot ;) On the agenda for the rest of the day is (1) basking in the glory of my run and (2) watching Bridalplasty with Caroline. I could not be more proud of the three of us :)

I really cannot say enough good things about wearing compression shorts underneath my running shorts. Not once did I have to tug my shorts down or worry about chafing or sweat. Unfortunately, I felt my headband slipping about a mile into the race. I didn't want to lose it, so I just finished wearing it around my forearm. I ate hair for the second half of the race, but it wasn't the end of the world. Happy race day!

P.S. Thank you to everyone who sent encouraging texts, tweets, emails, and blog comments my way!

Running Pains

This is going to sound really weird... but I'm (kind of) excited to have my first running pains. Not that I haven't felt like a "real" runner for the past 11 weeks as I've been training for the Susan G. Komen 5K, but this sort of makes being a "runner" seem more real to me.

Let me back up a bit. On Friday, I decided to challenge myself and run a 5K, even though my training schedule called for 3 miles. Afterward, I felt great, but my left knee was pretty sore, particularly when I stepped with that leg. Saturday, as I was hungover, traveling, and busy, I took the day off from exercise. The schedule called for 4 miles, and this was the second Saturday in a row that I skipped that 4-miler. I'm just not ready for that distance yet. Three miles doesn't exactly feel easy, per se, but I've come to be able to run it comfortably, increasing my speed and decreasing my time with each run. I've run more than 3 miles several times, when my schedule called for 40- or 45-minute runs. Four miles is still a (not-so-distant) future goal.

This morning, my training schedule called for the day off, but I'm used to transposing scheduled runs by now. I decided to challenge myself again, with a 3.5-mile run in 45 minutes. I didn't have any soreness, so I didn't think this challenge would be a problem. Wrong! I completed 3.5 miles in 44 minutes, 47 seconds. As soon as I hopped off the treadmill, my left knee was instantly in pain. Hence:

I don't know whether I should be heating or icing, or alternating heat and ice. The only methods I have of heating are in a bath or with a dryer-warmed towel. Fellow runners, can you help me out??

I do know that I should probably take a rest day tomorrow, or at least a brief hiatus from running. A friend recommended this as well, and she said that's what she does when she experiences soreness from running.

I'm thankful that I don't experience (or haven't yet experienced) persistent pain, shin splints, or torn or strained muscles. Infrequent soreness serves as a reminder that I'm pushing my body's limits without exceeding them.

If you have tips on treating soreness with quick at-home remedies, I'd be greatly appreciative! Have a very happy Sunday! :)

Falling Down on the Job

Okay, okay, I admit it.

I've been the worst accountability buddy.

One of my gym buddies, Lauren, has been my long-distance accountability buddy for months, and yet we've actually checked in with each other only a handful of times. She was much better about asking me whether I'd gone to the gym and motivating me to feel better before I began 5K training than I was for her. After I began my training program, I was pretty darn self-motivated, so I stopped checking in with Lauren and she stopped checking in with me. What I really need her to say now is, Don't eat those curly fries! Really? Another scoop of ice cream?! But while we were still agreed-upon long-distance gym buddies, I should have made more of an effort. She's too cute for me not to!

My other accountability buddy, Bekah, and I go to school together, though we never run into each other because she's an undergrad and we "live" on opposite sides of campus. She was much better about texting or tweeting me to see if I'd already run. I hardly ever remembered to text her, and when I did, it usually read something like, Yeah, I ran Monday and Wednesday and did weights on Tuesday. Oops, forgot to text you (again)!

It appears that not only do I not take many photos with my accountability buddies, but that all we do is drink beer!

I think the good news buried under the guilt here is that my friends and I are able to hold ourselves accountable for going to the gym and fitting exercise in our schedules where we can. Bekah recently began using the same 5K training plan I'm using, which definitely excited me! She's tried to get me involved in numerous actual 5K events -- as opposed to treadmill marathons -- and so has Lauren, but my timing and scheduling this semester have not yet allowed for it.

I think both of them would tell me not to worry about feeling like I fell down on the job (because they're both very motivated and forgiving women), but I'm one of those people who always honors without fail likes to honor commitments I've made.

However, 32 days from today, my dad and Caroline and I will be running in the Susan G. Komen 5K event in Richmond (my first race ever!). They'll be my new short-term accountability buddies :)

Have a marvelous Monday, and don't be too hard on yourself today!

P.S. Have you and a friend ever been accountability gym or exercise buddies? If so, how long did you maintain it? If not, is it something you're willing to try?

P.P.S. Today is the last day of my H2O Challenge. Thus far, I've only managed to drink 48 oz. of water in a day once. I don't think today's going to be a different story. It looks like 24 oz. of water plus 2 cups of coffee per diem is my norm. At least now I know!

H2O Challenge

As I was sipping my delicious Kiwi Strawberry Propel Zero last Friday morning gearing up for one of my longest runs yet, I decided to issue myself a challenge: Beginning Monday (because weekends at HSC are not ideal), I'm going to drink 48 oz. of water per day for one week. Currently I drink about half to seventy-five percent of that. Judge me if you must.

I began week 9 of my 12-week 5K training program this morning, so drinking adequate water is vital. The last 4 weeks of the training program call for running a certain number of miles rather than a certain length of time. Now that I've run more than a 5K three times during my prescribed 45-minute runs, I thought running 3 miles this morning would be challenging but doable. I was right! It always feels good afterward, but during these longs runs I get what I like to call jelly legs and I'm sweating like a drug testee on Niacin. (Side note: sweating absolutely does not bother me when I exercise. I'm not one of those girls who prefers to "glisten." In fact, I tend to have the mentality that the more I sweat, the better cardio workout I'm having.) I always try to hydrate well before a run (but not so much so that I'm bloated or I cramp up), and I try not to guzzle my whole water bottle as I complete my 3-minute cool-down. Needless to say, sweating and physical activity require water, water, water!

I have to say, running on the treadmill has become very enjoyable for me. If I miss or skip more than a few days in the gym, I truly miss it. Call me crazy... But I'm being honest with myself and with you all. Anyway, I'm straying a bit from the topic at hand. H2O it is. Thus far, I've only consumed about 15 oz. of water, so I'll get those extra ounces in as I half-consciously sip my water during class and dinner. Updates to come. Have a happy hydrated Monday!

P.S. I forgot to add this little jewel to my Greek Week post. It was duct taped to one of the main doors leading into/out of Ian's dorm hall:

Quit Playing Games With My Stomach

I have BIG news this morning -- I RAN A 5K!!! Without walk breaks, without pausing, without crying, without passing out, I ran a 5K on the treadmill in 40 minutes :) This is one of those accomplishments that will keep me smiling all day long!
I'm particularly excited because I'll know when my 5K rolls around May 12, that I can do it because I've already done it ;)

Speaking of the gym...
I often play a game with myself called Should I Eat Before the Gym or Can I Make It 45 Minutes Without Fainting? Please believe -- I'm no ano. I just feel lighter and more even-keeled when I skip eating before I work out. Some days, though, my hypoglycemia kicks in and I really struggle through the last 5 or 10 minutes of a run. It's not a great feeling: light-headedness, tunnel vision, shaky arms and legs, and a rumbling tummy. Most days, I feel great if I pop a few Tic Tacs and a sip or two of Vitamin H2O before I treadmill it up, just for a mini sugar boost and a little something in my stomach. On days when I'm lifting weights, it doesn't matter much whether I eat beforehand. I'm not doing much exercise that requires stamina. On days when I know I'll be doing what I refer to as my "long runs," it's a gamble. I just try to take it day by day.

On a comedic note...
How I feel when I run:

Source

What I actually look like when I run:

Source

This morning I ate a Blueberry Muffin Larabar before hitting the treadmill, because my training schedule called for a 40-minute run--the longest run I've yet completed. What a feeling! I wasn't even attempting to run a 5K. I mean, I'm only at the end of week 6 out of a 12-week program. I just realized that at the pace I was running and with my planned duration, I would reach 3.1 miles with no problem. I actually ran 3.13 miles in 40 minutes, with a 2-minute warmup and a 3-minute cool-down, for a total of 3.37 miles in 45 minutes.
I'm patting myself on the back for completing this longest run yet, and for (trying my best to) making wise choices when it comes to exercising on an empty stomach.

I stocked up on Larabars last night at Kroger; I've decided that their protein content and their fabulous variety in nutrition outweigh their caloric content.
And what scrumptious flavors they offer, too!

I also fixed myself a protein-laden breakfast after my run, not only because my eggs will expire soon, but because I haven't had a breakfast like this in quite some time:

P.S. What are your thoughts on eating before you exercise? When I swam twice a day on a competition team, I had no choice but to eat before workouts. Swimming several miles on an empty stomach isn't the wisest of ideas.

Tricky Lady

Karma is a bitch. And she will eff with you. Make no mistake.

I had a slight run-in with karma twice yesterday.

Along with that cliche phrase, I'd also like to say, too much of a good thing isn't necessarily a great thing, or however it goes.

Story #1:

Yesterday, my training plan called for a 30-minute run. I thought, easy peezy, and I was excited to run out my soreness from Tuesday's weights session. When I walked into the gym, there was an older gentleman beginning to walk on the middle treadmill. There was a girl climbing onto the first elliptical. I started to move toward the far treadmill, but the man told me it wasn't plugged in and didn't seem to be working. I thanked him and moved around him to the first treadmill, but Elliptical Girl informed me it was stuck at its steep incline. I tried to fiddle with it, but sure enough, it was. Thinking I could at least get in some form of cardio, I walked back over to the far elliptical, only to notice that the stuff on it and beside it belonged to my personal elliptical-frequenting, chain-smoking, sickly-coughing, phlegm-hacking annoyance of a gym buddy (obviously, we're tight). I was starting to get aggravated when I decided to plug in the closest treadmill to see if it was at least operational. Miracle of all miracles, it lit right up! It began its lowly crawl when I pressed Quick Start, so I was in business. It was flashing a message I've sometimes seen on the treadmills, "Waxer Needs Refill -- Notify Maintenance." Hey, the thing was working, so I blew it off, found CSI: Miami on the tube, and started my workout.

Twenty-five minutes into my run, with five measly minutes to go, the treadmill suddenly stopped, jerked, and threw me forward. I banged into the display screen, and then I almost fell backward. Luckily, nothing happened to me, but I wasn't able to finish my run, tabulate my data, or cool down as I normally like to do. To top that off, I noticed that the maintenance man had begun to work on the other two treadmills, and he probably had mine in mind next.

Karma, karma. You tricky lady.

Story #2:

Ian and I dined at TGI Friday's yesterday for lunch. There was a promotion going on, three courses (from a limited selection) for $16.99. Ian wisely selected a two-course option: a house salad accompanied by shrimp and fries. I was hungry after my run, and this was serving as breakfast and lunch. I chose crispy green beans with wasabi Ranch as my appetizer, creamy Cajun chicken and shrimp pasta as my entree, and vanilla bean cheesecake as my dessert. I thought, so here I have a green vegetable, carbs, seafood, and dairy. Not too shabby. Ha! The joke was on me, folks. I haven't eaten that quantity of food in quite some time. In fact, I only ate three-quarters of the appetizer, half of the entree, and half of the dessert. Three hours after lunch, I was still miserably full, even after a Tums binge and a bottle of water. I wasn't ready for dinner until 7:30... Nearly seven hours after we finished lunch. I should have heeded my body when it told me it was craving fresh veggies and fruit, that it didn't want fried food or heavy pasta or a rich dessert, and that a creamy Cajun sauce would inevitably be too spicy for me. I had planned to eat rice and soup for dinner, but instead my two meals consisted of Friday's and a wisely chosen spinach salad with fresh veggies and seeds. I decided to leave the leftovers for another day.

I won't be doing that again.

Karma, karma. You tricky lady.

P.S. Do you ever have run-ins with karma? She and I frequently run into one another.

Gearing Up

As many of you know, I've really gotten into running since I began graduate school. I don't exercise much outdoors, but the treadmill and I have become well acquainted. The elliptical and I are old friends. Needless to say, workout gear has been essential. I've been using the same old pair of tennis shoes for about 2 years now. I got them cheap on a Spring Break trip to Florida. They're quite comfortable and light, but they've begun to leak when I step out during bad weather. They've also stretched out pretty badly, so they sometimes untie themselves during a run.

Yesterday, Mom splurged for a pair I really wanted at Dick's:

I tried on several other pairs, but these have everything I was looking for -- they're snazzy, they're lightweight, they have great arch support, they have fantastic tread, and they fit tightly for added support.

I also decided to try out some legit running shorts; I love wearing yoga pants to the gym, particularly during cold weather, but I only have 3 pairs currently. Now, I have even more pep for my fitness collection:

And now, for the pièce de résistance: by far the best athletic socks I've ever worn. Now I don't have to strategically plan how to make 5 pairs last between laundry days!

My dad jokingly says we're a "strictly Nike family," so I took that to heart (except for the Reebok shorts) when shopping yesterday. I legitimately think I could spend all day in Dick's, and the sales staff could probably convince me that I'm capable of trying 50 different sports. For now, I think I'll just stick to running :)

Speaking of which, I missed almost a full week of 5K training while I was in Mexico, so tomorrow will be a repeat of week six, making the program 13 weeks long instead of 12. One more week can only help me, especially because I finally have an official 5K in mind (more deets about that to come). I'll be participating with my dad and my sister, and I'm super stoked for my first event!

P.S. Do you have loyalty to any particular brand of athletic gear? Do you prefer to shop at any particular sporting goods store? Do you exercise mostly indoors or outdoors? I'm all about sweatin' it out in the gym, but I love sporadic outdoor activities like hiking around Maymont Park or going for long walks during snowfall.

Baggage

See... When the airline tells me I need to keep the weight of my baggage under 50 pounds, I'm like, No problem! Oh, wait...

One person totally needs all this for one week...

Obviously, I'll need to do a bit of lot of streamlining, but I am planning to take the majority of this crap with me to Mexico. When I was laying everything out on my bed at my apartment, I was thinking, I will absolutely wear 2 different pairs of high heels. How can I not bring every cami I've ever owned? I will not be able to travel without 6 pairs of jeans. Completely rational, of course. It's been a running joke in our family for as long as I can remember that my suitcase is always the largest, the heaviest, the most awkward, and full of the least useful items.

When we flew to Key West in May of 2011, the weight limit for each suitcase was 50 pounds. Mine -- 52.5 pounds. I had to unzip my suitcase, expose my undergarments to the world, and take out one pair of shoes at a time -- and transfer them to my father's golf bag -- until my suitcase was an acceptable weight. Needless to say, my sister Caroline has given me endless grief about it.

Our family has one of the largest duffel bags I've ever seen, which is what got me into trouble flying to Key West, and which is what I plan to travel with on this trip. It fits anything I could possibly imagine, and it allows me to pack comfortably (with options) for a week or more. That's the burden and the blessing. Trying to cram two weeks' worth of clothes and shoes (that I don't need) into a duffel bag got me to thinking about a conversation Ian and I had Thursday night.

We had been experiencing a communication disconnect for a bit, which is frustrating in that it feels like neither party is able to send or receive an understandable message. After we had a very fulfilling conversation, I felt physically relieved. I felt as though all of the weight I had been carrying around needlessly was suddenly lifted. I think I could probably achieve that same feeling if I lightened the load I'm traveling around with all the time, both physically and emotionally.

However... It looks as though I'm still carrying the max amount of weight to Mexico! Some things never change, huh?

It also helps me to relieve stress by running it out.

My 5K training program has been a source of stability and routine in my life.

I never knew I could experience the thrill of a runner's high until today -- every time I run a PDR, I get overly excited. Today's was my longest run yet, at 2.66 miles in 35 minutes. I ran at a slower pace than I normally do, because I'm not used to the fancy-shmancy treadmills at the Y. I felt like I was walking on a cloud as I left the gym :)

P.S. Enjoy your weekend! My blog will probably be a little sparse for the next week, but I feel sure I'll have plenty to write about post-Mexico!

Lesson Learned

Here's the thing about immune systems: You can guzzle vitamin C, but your body will only store what it can use before excreting the rest. You can wash your hands incessantly, but germs stick around. You can eat well decently and exercise regularly and still fall victim to feeling crappy. You can do everything right and still get sick.

It's like I've had a sign on my back for the past week -- GERMS WELCOME HERE! 

I'm not totally convinced that it's not just my body rebelling against snow one day and sundresses the next.

Nevermind that. My Chloraseptic, my Hall's, my Kleenex box, and my bed will get me through this none the worse for wear. Today, I learned my lesson about pushing myself when I wasn't feeling up to a challenge. I slept pretty restlessly for almost 11 hours before Ian declared the morning begun. We lounged around for a couple of hours; I don't have much of an appetite today, but he was stoked to heat up his Red Lobster leftovers. Mine will serve well for dinner tonight:

I made what I thought would be a delicious, protein-packed, vitamin-laden brunch -- a toasted whole wheat bagel topped with an egg sunny-side up, garlic and chive hummus, baby spinach leaves, a slice of tomato, a slice of Swiss, some chunks of creamy avocado, and a sprinkle of black pepper, accompanied, of course, by a Greek yogurt:

About an hour later, Ian suggested we head to the gym "to get the blood flowing." I thought, Yeah! I'll probably feel great after I run!

Not so much. Why did I think I could run if I can't breathe?

My 5K training plan called for a 30-minute run yesterday, which I didn't complete due to the VACES conference. Today was considered an "off" day, which I used to make up that run.

Nevermind common sense! I ran a PDR of 2.4 miles in 30 minutes, for a total of 2.63 miles in 35 minutes including warm-up and cool-down. I wasn't expecting my blood sugar to drop with 10 minutes left in my run, nor was I expecting to get light-headed as soon as I began my cool-down. Lesson learned. Note to self: Don't push it. Allow your body time time to recover from illness. No need for PDRs or heroes.

On the upside, Jaws was on TV, so I enjoyed some of Dad's and my favorite quotes while I ran:

"I think you're gonna need a bigger boat..."

"It's a tiger shark." "A whaaat?"

"Are you going to close the beaches?"

"That's some bad hat, Harry."

"I'll drink to your leg." "Okay, so we drink to our legs!"

"I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten."

"Smile, you sonofabitch!"  ;)

Well, it's about that time for an afternoon nap. Enjoy your Sunday, blends!

P.S. Do you work out when you're feeling under the weather? What foods do you recommend for a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and a wicked cough?

Planaholics Not-So-Anonymous

Yesterday, due to the stress of class "pre-registration" (whatever that means), I skipped the gym. I awoke at my usual hour, dressed for the gym, prepped my iPod and my water bottle... and spent the entire morning, as well as a good portion of the afternoon, slaving away on figuring out my academic schedule from now until spring 2014. And you know what? I was perfectly okay with it. I had other priorities, like registering for summer classes so I can work out logistics for two families' vacations and a J-O-B. The first time I skipped a workout out of necessity as opposed to laziness, I thought I'd feel guilty and out of sorts. Quite the opposite, my blends. I felt that I made the right choice in staying home to work out something much more important.

Source

This morning, however, I had a little trouble putting pep in my step, but I pushed through a run anyway. Just as a side note, yesterday was considered an "off" day on my training schedule, but I've pretty much disregarded those. In my mind, they're useful for strength training days or for rearranging my runs around my weekend travels.

Look at me, experimenting with the tools in Paint! Yes, I'm 10.

See, I'm a planner. I'm a list-maker. I'm a color-coordinator. I'm a pros-cons maker. In other words... I'm a freak of nature. We've already been through this on the blog, but some things never change. I should start a support group. They probably already exist for people like me.

In other news...

I can't seem to shake this scratchy throat I've had for a couple days. My Chloraseptic, which normally works wonders, is pretty much rendered useless. Yesterday I tried to ignore it, and I bummed a lollipop and a mint from my classmates so I wouldn't be clearing my throat or coughing every few minutes. I discovered some sugar-free hard candies in my pantry that I'll definitely be employing. I made soup for dinner last night and finished the leftovers today. I should have avoided dairy, which can thicken mucus and make it more difficult to get rid of something like this, but I was in such a cereal mood this morning. Guilty! I also can't start my day without my Chobani. Guess I didn't do myself any favors. I did take a Claritin around 12:30, because the med-free route didn't help yesterday. My only other symptom has been a mild headache, and I haven't even needed Ibuprofen.

Kind and helpful people keep offering suggestions: "Maybe it's the weather!" "Maybe it was the snow! Did you go out with wet hair?" "Maybe it's allergies!" "Did you get a flu shot?" "Do you have pets?"

Sorry, everybody... None of the above. Yes, the weather has been fluctuating rapidly. No, I do not have seasonal allergies or pet dander floating around. I got a flu shot this winter, and I do not run around with wet hair during snowstorms, hoping to feel wretched. Not feeling 100% frustrates me; it's the control freak in me. I obviously didn't plan for this to happen. Fortunately, my schedule affords me plenty of rest, as well as plenty of time to get everything done.

If you know of any remedies for an itchy throat, please send 'em my way! It's not painful as much as it is annoying. It wakes me up in the middle of the night occasionally, and I know it's not for lack of hydration. I've been guzzling water like it's the apocalypse. Better now than next week, right before Spring Break!

Survey Thursday

I borrowed this little gem from my friend Colleen's blog from a few weeks ago. Admittedly, I've encountered a case of stress with side effects of writer's block and anxiety. So as not to lose another day, here's a wee bit of info about yours truly:

(1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday?

I love, love, love to sleep in and feel guilt-free about it! I love to laze around for awhile, whip up a tasty homemade brunch, and start the day whenever I feel like it :)

(2) List your top three favorite TV shows.

In order, The Office, CSI: NY or Miami, Dance Moms, and Make It or Break It. I couldn't choose just three!

(3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them?

I suppose a bit of both. I don't feel like I'm especially photogenic, particularly in candid shots when I haven't had a chance to fix my sometimes wild mane or ensure that my eyes aren't squeezed shut! I've recently discovered how much I enjoy taking pictures of everything for the blog.

(4) Why do you blog?

I decided in December that because I enjoyed reading others' blogs so much and I enjoy exercising and making healthy eating choices, I would combine the two into a newfound passion!

(5) Share five websites that you visit regularly.

My two email accounts, Twitter, my blog site, YouTube, and Netflix. Probably in that order, too.

(6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list, who would it be?

I'd have lunch with the person who created the account for the Dos Equis guy. Those tweets never cease to make me laugh, especially as they become less and less realistic, and more and more silly. After all, he is the most interesting man in the world...

"Stay thirsty, my friends."

(7) List a few of your favorite snacks.

- Pomegranate Chobani

- KIND bars and Nature Valley bars

- Kashi cereal

- Diced strawberries or whole blueberries

- Ants on a log (you know, celery sticks topped with peanut butter and raisins)

- Chips and mild salsa

(8) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind?

My family pet, Nick, passed away in 2010, about a month before he would have turned 12. He was a pretty incredible guy, and definitely a member of our family. We'll very likely get another dog in the future for extra companionship, and I'd love it if we got another Golden Retriever -- you can't ask for a more beautiful, loyal dog with a sweeter disposition.

The Christmas Mouse

I also have a pet rock, Bernie. I picked him up at a little shop called The Wooden Heart in Farmville several years ago. He was too cute to resist:

(9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without?

My cell phone, my laptop, and my blanket that I've had for as long as I can remember. Hi, I'm A.K., I'm 23 and I still have a blankie. It would be just an old piece of cloth if it hadn't been a bedsheet at my Granny's house before she gave it to me. This thing used to be pink (and whole):

(10) What's your favorite drink?

I'm a big fan of a Tom Collins, a well-made gin and tonic, and a Sex With an Alligator.

Delicious if made right

I'll also take a shot of almost anything (once), and I adore Vitamin Water and SoBe Life Water. I also can't live without Starbuck's when I'm traveling. Bless you, caffeine.

(11) Do you enjoy cooking?

Do I enjoy cooking? Yes. Am I good at cooking? Not so much. Everyone has to start somewhere, right? I have a few recipes up my sleeve ;)

(12) Do you have children?

I sure don't. I'm not engaged or married. I don't plan on even thinking about having children until my future is much more set. Like, with a job, for example...

(13) What are your favorite hobbies?

Blogging is one of my new favorite hobbies. I've always enjoyed writing, and now I'm enjoying letting others read my stuff.

I'll always enjoy anything and everything with good friends and family. It doesn't matter what we're doing, as long as we're together.

(14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing?

Allow these photos to speak for themselves.

(15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change?

I wouldn't. End o' story.

(16) Who is your favorite actor or actress?

I'm pretty partial to Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Channing Tatum (for his looks factor), Reese Witherspoon, and Meryl Streep.

(17) What's the coolest thing you've done this week?

I began Week Three of my 5K training program, which is pretty nifty, I guess. I've also done a fair amount of soul-searching, which we all need sometimes when we realize our lives might be passing us by if we don't slow down.

(18) Do you live near your family or far from them?

I live near my family, thank goodness. I'm a quick 2-hour drive away from my house when I'm at school. We don't get to see some members of my dad's side of the family very often because they live in different states. My mom's family is all in VA, pretty close together, so we don't mind being the ones traveling to see them. We have annual Christmas and July 4th celebrations, to which I always really look forward. My cousin, Taylor, is almost exactly 2 years younger than I am, and she and I have been close since she was born. Plus, she's in between Caroline's and my ages.

This photo was taken in 2007 at the reception after our Granny's funeral. It truly was a celebration, though -- my Granny lived to be almost 97 years old!

(19) List three of your talents.

I'd like to think I have a pretty great prankster side. I'd also like to think that I'm a good writer. Feel free to disagree, but it's a talent on which I've always prided myself. I also believe I have the ability to befriend almost anyone. Almost.

(20) What is your greatest attribute?

I'd rather not sound like a pompous ass, but I'm pretty proud of myself for generally being an honest soul. I think honesty can get you far in life, and it sure as hell will benefit me as a counselor.

P.S. Please feel free to use this survey! I'd love to see your responses to some or all of these questions :)



Taking an Exercise from Vacation

In June 2010, the Lew Crew took its first Royal Caribbean cruise from Florida to Nassau, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas to celebrate Caroline's graduation from high school! Dad took full advantage of the exercise opportunities available on-board, while Caroline, Mom and I took full advantage of the pools, lounge chairs, shopping, poolside adult beverages (okay, I did the advantage-taking on this one), room service... and the list goes on. We had heard tales of friends and acquaintances who had gained as much as 10 pounds(!) during a week-long cruise after indulging in all-you-can-eat buffets, schmaltzy restaurants, gourmet shops, endless poolside alcohol, authentic island cuisine in ports of call, and so much more.

I probably gained a pound or two, admittedly, though we did not spend the entire cruise lazily, and all of my clothes still fit perfectly when we returned home.

I didn't have the courage to try this, but it made for such a cool photo.

We tried unsuccessfully to get Dad to enter this!

In one of our ports of call, we participated in a mini-America's Cup, for which I was selected as the team captain, and asked to give an impromptu inspirational speech halfway through, which I'd like to believe helped clench our victory (hence all of us signaling "number one")! We were each given a task to perform to compete against the other racing vessel. Thank goodness for my sense of adventure, my inner ear preventing me from seasickness, and my four years of passionate public speaking in ADPi to prep me for such a nerve-wracking (but thrilling) experience!

On the last night of the cruise, this man drunkenly stood on his chair and proclaimed his love for the Captain and Royal Caribbean. Folks, I'll loudly and proudly tell you, I wanted to join him. Until he took his shirt off and whirled it above his head... Instead:

This Spring Break, the Lew Crew is journeying out of the country for a trip south of the border: Mexico! Caroline's and my breaks finally aligned, so the stars must have, too. I guess it's because I joined the Private School Club, and she and Ian call it.

The point of my post is that the resort at which we're staying reportedly has a fantastic fitness facility, which all of us plan to use. I'll be in Week Six of my 5K training, so I can't afford to lose a week's momentum! I used to think that allowing myself to enjoy time away from the gym and exercise in different ways (e.g., running in the waves, taking a long walk in the sand, even walking a few miles around the city carrying shopping bags) wasn't beneficial to my health. I've learned that there are a million ways to exercise, and the vast majority of them do not occur inside a structured gym. I also learned that keeping up my momentum while on vacation and out of my normal routine is great for mentally regrouping, learning new strategies, and experimenting with new foods. Perhaps the healthiest benefit of all is spending QT with the best family anyone could possibly imagine!

So while I fully intend to sip fruity drinks, immerse myself in local cuisine and culture, and soak up the sun, I also plan to kick my own butt in the process!

P.S. Do you work out while you're on vacation, or do you give yourself some respite? Have you ever been to Mexico? If so, what tips or pointers do you have?