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!

Run About It, Read About It

Interestingly enough, I ran across an article last night via Twitter about common mistakes runners make. I thought maybe these mistakes could help explain my knee pain.

It would appear that I'm making two out of three of these mistakes.

Guilty!

The third mistake, which I am proud to say I am not making due to my need to change my footwear up, is overusing the same old pair of sneakers.

Not a problem!

The article recommended that runners change their sneakers out every 200-350 miles (or about every 4-6 months, depending on how much you run). This isn't a problem for me, since I have yet to make my 50-mile monthly goal, and I keep my new sneaks almost solely for gym use.

On a related note...

As I mentioned yesterday, I took a planned day off from running this morning... but I was still itchin' for a cardio workout. I couldn't resist the elliptical, and that 45 minutes felt gooood! Well, not so much on the knee. The soreness occurs immediately following a workout, though it doesn't hurt while I'm exercising. Tomorrow, I'm definitely taking the hint and making it either a rest day or strictly an upper-body strength training day. I know I need to be smart about treating my body, but I can't help but be excited that I have fewer than 20 miles left to accomplish in the month, and 14 more days!

Have a phenomenal Monday, and take advantage of this beautiful weather!

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:

A Revolutionary Revelation

This morning I was totally not stoked about pretty much dreading the gym. It was a weight training day, it was a Wednesday, it was below 60 degrees, I knew I was pushed for time, I hadn't slept well, I needed to wash all the linens before I went grocery shopping... I had a host of other excuses. It still makes me chuckle a bit when I think about how I used to live for weight training days so I wouldn't have to go near that goshdarn dreadmill. These days, a great run is exactly what I crave.

Monday and Tuesday had been great runs, and I had runs planned for Thursday and Friday, with Friday being another 45-minute run (my longest yet). I don't usually cram so many running days together, but traveling on the weekends means condensing my training schedule quite a bit.

So I tried something revolutionary -- I didn't go.

(WHAT?!)

I must say, it was relieving. I didn't feel guilty. I didn't feel as though I were wasting time. I didn't have to bargain with the devil or resign myself to eating only crackers and water today. I just didn't go. I got my morning started, I got the laundry started, and I even found a few minutes to remind myself that my body needs rest just as much as it thrives on physical activity.

I read many blog posts a week which are divided between the hardcores who never miss a day in the gym or an opportunity for exercise, and those who prioritize fitness but don't get their panties in a wad if they choose to miss a day here or there. I used to be the former, but I'd like to consider myself part of the latter group. Fitness and physical activity are important to me, especially on my journey to lose weight, but fitness is multidimensional and it's personal. I value well-rounded fitness more so than a bragging point of 365 days in the gym.

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

And so, with that, I'm off to put to good use the free hour I've just given myself. Have a wonderful Wednesday, and don't be too hard on yourself today!

Finally!

It's official, ladies and gents -- Make It or Break It is back again!

Tonight's episode was every bit as thrilling and dramatic as I've been hoping it would be.

Payson, Lauren, and Kaylie are up to their usual teenage antics, gymnastics woes, and girly soblems (sobs + problems). There's no denying that I love this show. I'm obviously no athlete phenom myself, but hey, can't I be passionate about someone else's talent? Bad acting and ridiculous dialogue aside, it's an inspiring show.

Emily Kmetko, Kaylie Cruz, Lauren Tanner

Even though I'm not a gymnast, sometimes I feel as though my journey and theirs aren't so different. These girls have been in training since they were toddlers; I've been laboring through school since the same age, and I still have at least two years ahead of me. Focus is paramount in gymnastics; studying hard and smart is paramount in counselor education. These girls are keeping that age-old dream alive: if you work hard enough and believe in yourself, anything is possible. My stress about this semester's classes and workload can't rival competing for a spot on the Olympic team, but this isn't a competition. I'm simply inspired by seeing others pursue their dreams so wholeheartedly and with such vigor... even if it is a TV show!

My analogies may be ludicrous and corny, but sometimes watching a show like Make It or Break It is perfect for getting me out of my own head for a little while.

Source

P.S. Do you have a favorite show? Does it relate to your life (or do you draw laughable connections between fictional characters and yourself like I do)?

Just What I Needed

This weekend was exactly what the doctor ordered. Not literally.

Prepare for a full synopsis!

Friday, Ian and I dined at Buffalo Wild Wings. I tried the Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sandwich, and I subbed a side salad for fries (pats self on back). I was still craving a little something sweet afterward, so I ordered a scoop of vanilla ice cream from the kids menu. Mmm, mmm, mmm! Later on, we ventured down to one of Ian's best friend's dorm complex for some adult beverages, card games, and camaraderie. We even indulged in 2:00 a.m. Sheetz sandwiches. Oops!

Saturday, I relished the luxury of sleeping in, though Ian had to be up and at 'em before the sun awoke for an open house event for prospective students and their families. He rejoined me around 12:30, and we hit the gym. Hampden-Sydney has one of the most beautiful college gyms I've ever seen, though all I needed was a treadmill. Thankfully, there was hardly anyone else working out to see me huffing and puffing my way through my longest run yet -- 45 minutes! That ended up being almost 3.5 miles, which felt like a heart attack and light-headedness afterward, but which felt like pride and accomplishment later :) We grabbed lunch at T-Bell, and I tried the Soft Taco Supreme, which I haven't eaten since I was in middle school. Beef still isn't my thing in this whole meat experimentation process, but those tacos sure were tasty after such a difficult workout.

After a short nap, some March Madness, and a bit of Bo Burnham's stand-up routine, we showered and dressed for the evening. I tried the Tiger Inn's (HSC's student center and cafe) finest -- the tuna melt sandwich, onion petals, a Vitamin Water, and a Kit Kat bar. We spent Saturday night with our Friday night crowd. I may be 23, but Kings and $%#@ the Dealer have yet to get old, especially when paired with hilarious people. What a weekend!

This afternoon, we enjoyed the dining hall's brunch spread, which I always enjoy. I'm very much a creature of habit, so I always snag fresh-squeezed OJ, French roast coffee, low-fat granola with skim, an egg white omelette with veggies and cheese, fruit cocktail and cottage cheese, and a donut hole or three. Ian had a busy afternoon ahead, and I needed to get back to work on a project, so unfortunately we parted company around 3:00.

This weekend was just what I needed to clear my head, relax, spend time with close friends, try a new workout in a new place, and laugh until I couldn't breathe. I hope your weekend was equally as excellent :)

P.S. Tomorrow night, Make It or Break It returns full-force, and I could not be more excited! I've never been busier or more stressed with all that's due in the next few weeks, but I absolutely love this show!

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.

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!

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!

Back-Tracking or Getting Back on Track?

It's no secret to any of you who read regularly that nearly all of my breakfast posts look identical. They're not the same pic repeatedly; I just have a small a.m. repertoire.

This morning:

My late lunch will consist of a banana slathered with crunchy peanut butter and perhaps a few slices of avocado. I will not eat bananas that are not at least halfway still green. Mom always says they still have to be crunchy in order for me to consider them. She's not far off the mark...

I was ecstatic to discover Sunbelt Oatmeal Raisin granola bars at Kroger on Saturday. I didn't even need granola bars, but these puppies are such a rarity at any store that I had to snatch them up. Thus, my in-class snack will be Sunbelt glory.

Dinner tonight will be leftover spaghetti with Smart Sauce, seasoned turnip greens, and sliced cucumber and tomato accompanied by vinegar.

All of this sounds pretty balanced and nutritious, right? I've got whole grains, low-fat dairy, natural sugars, fresh fruits and veggies, dark greens, protein, calcium, vitamin C, potassium...

On Friday, I wrote about how one meal doesn't necessarily derail an entire week of healthy meal and fitness decisions. Well, in all honesty, I allowed last night's dinner to create a complete trainwreck out of my decisions. Between 4-5 jalapeno poppers, 2-3 vanilla almond cake cookies, 2 slices of authentic Italian pizza from Vinny's (trust me, it's authentic), Woodchuck Amber, and one of these babies plus a frozen yogurt sundae (complete with the requisite marashino cherry), I was feeling pretty guilty last night:

Just because it was Super Bowl Sunday didn't mean that I couldn't have offered to bring a homemade veggie tray, or at least a potluck dish involving fresh veggies. I do not mean to imply that my hosts' courtesy and delicious provisions weren't spot-on; I simply mean that I overindulged and didn't exercise any self-restraint.

That being said, this morning I popped out of bed at the usual time (but following 9 hours of sleep and an entire bottle of water), ready to resume 5K training. Week Two, Monday, called for 15 minutes on the treadmill, so I decided to bump up my speed a few notches to compensate for yesterday's indiscretions. I completed 1.48 miles, feeling bloated and disappointed in myself.

I want to make a few things clear: (1) I'm not on a journey to starve myself; I definitely want to lose weight, but I'm approaching it in a healthy and gradual manner. (2) I'm not trying to perpetually deny myself less-than-wholesome foods, but I am trying to limit my intake. (3) Weekends are not easy for me when it comes to self-restraint or portion control. I'm not an eating machine, and nobody's perfect, so with each day comes improvement. (4) The mission of my blog is not to berate myself or others for eating crap or letting healthy habits slide. It's for tracking my journey and my emergence into several different new exploits.

This week begins a new week in my life, and thus, a renewed opportunity for nutrition, fitness, and overall health. If you're just joining me, I'm happy you're here. If you've stuck around this long, thanks for hangin' in there! Happy Monday :)



Super, Super Bowl Sunday

There may not be anyone who cares less about football than I do. The only time I've ever made myself interested was when Ian played offensive lineman on the H-SC team, and during his senior year when he'd hung up the cleats, but our families tailgated every weekend. Let's be honest -- even then, it was more about people-watching ;)

Today, however, I'm very excited to watch the Super Bowl at the home of Kristin and her boyfriend (Travis), and with Jennifer. We're potluckin' it and ordering pizza, which is pretty thrilling. I'm proud to report that pizza is a delicacy rather than a regularity for me now.

I don't have a stake in either team, so I'm not sure for whom I'll be rooting. My sister is partial to the Giants, and I'm not sure which way my comrades swing. Tonight will be about great company, great food, great commercials, and a (hopefully) great halftime show.

This is my contribution to the potluck:

My sister and I baked the above Vanilla Almond Cake Cookies. I'm beyond excited about so many of the Chobani recipes I've discovered!

On that note, I proudly tried out three(!) new recipes this weekend, including the cookies. Saturday night, Caroline and I grocery shopped for the ingredients for Greek Salad Pitas from my Good Housekeeping vegetarian cookbook.

I bear no responsibility for this. Though I did cry/snort laughing...

Prep: 20 minutes

Makes 4 sandwiches

What you'll need:

1 can (15-19 oz.) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup plain lowfat yogurt [we used Chobani]

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 garlic clove, peeled

4 (6- to 7-inch) whole-wheat pitas

3 cups sliced romaine lettuce

2 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/4-inch pieces

1 medium cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

2 oz. feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)

2 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves

fresh mint leaves for garnish [optional]

What you'll do:

1. In food processor, with knife blade attached, or in blender, combine beans, yogurt, oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, cumin, and garlic; puree until smooth.

2. Cut off top third of each pita to form pocket. Use half of bean mixture to spread inside pockets.

3. Combine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, feta, and chopped mint; use to fill pockets.

4. Top with remaining bean mixture and mint leaves.

And this morning, I toasted a whole wheat bagel and topped it with one egg, a slice of Swiss, two slices of avocado, and a juicy slice of tomato. The other half I topped with an old favorite, low-fat cream cheese and grape jelly. Mmm, mmm, mmm! I had seen this breakfast combo on one of my favorite blogs, and I'd been dying to try it out.

Today, my training program calls for a day off. Thus far, I haven't actually taken off any of my "off" days. Being that I hit the gym seven days consecutively, I decided that a day off would probably do my body good, even though I'm feeling great. I don't want to overdo it and injure myself. A day off, it is.

No matter what you're doing or whom you're rooting for tonight, I hope you enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday!

P.S. Do you ever worry about purposefully taking time off from the gym or from your exercise routine? Do you relish time off, or do you feel guilty? I know I need not feel guilty, because this training program was developed for the benefit of novice runners.

P.P.S. Who are you rooting for tonight?!

I Was Sooo Good!

"But... I was doing so well!"

Do you ever find yourself saying those ridiculously useless words? I know I do. I'll be having an excellent, healthy week, and then BUMP right into a caloric Friday night.

Thursday's breakfast consisted of an omelette with sauteed onions and a slice of Swiss (which I recently read is one of the lowest-fat cheeses out there), 3 pieces of veggie bacon, a piece of Whole Foods Sweet & Crunchy bread with orange marmalade, Dunkin with a splash of creamer and fat-free half-and-half, and a pomegranate Chobani. Lunch--because I was a bit off my game yesterday--was a handful of fresh blueberries and a fruit and nut granola bar at 4:00. I sat down for dinner quite late (8:30, to be more precise), and I was certainly glad I had planned and set out my meal: low-sodium Sensibly Seasoned turnip greens with vinegar, and spaghetti with sauteed onions and shiitake mushrooms, fresh organic basil, and Smart Sauce.

What's so bad about Thursday? Well, not much.

All week, I've been unnaturally very, very excited for Girls' Night Out at Olive Garden (my Eden) with Jennifer and Kristin tonight!

Doesn't Kristin look like she got caught doing something she wasn't supposed to be?

I completed day 5 of my 5K training plan this morning, and I felt excellent for two reasons: (1) I worked out 6 consecutive days, which never happens for me, and (2) I was pretty pumped to set an alarm on a Friday and hit the treadmill! Okay, okay, my third reason for being so elated is that I'm almost finished with my first full week of training, and I'm loving it! A celebration was in order ;)

Breakfast this morning was a tough decision between oats with brown sugar, almond slices, flax seeds, and granola, or Kashi with flax seeds and Truvia... I was all out of fresh berries, but that didn't stop this Happy Train.

I ended up going with the Kashi, partially because I need to be using my milk before it expires.

 Now, on to my O.G. overload...

This was how we felt before our scrumptious meal:

A few things to point out -- One, we were on the hunt for the three-course dinner for $12.95 we had seen advertised on TV. Soup or salad and unlimited breadsticks, your choice of entree from a selection of five, and your choice of dessert shooter from a selection of five. Between the 3 of us, I think we did serious damage to 4 bowls of salad. It all sounds like a great deal fiscally, but I may not eat again until next week! Much to my own surprise, I ordered a chicken dish; much to my delight, it was quite tasty!

Oh, and let's not forget the pitcher of wildberry sangria Kristin ordered, and the Quartinos of Roscato Jennifer and I got...

This is a bit more along the lines of how we were feeling after 2.5 hilarious hours at O.G., though truly I have no complaints:

I'm not sure Jennifer knew how to feel, so she went with a combo.

My point in this post is that a less-than-healthy meal doesn't necessarily derail your entire healthy week. However, like my good (real life) friend Colleen says, "Have a cheat MEAL, not a cheat DAY... having a whole DAY of cheats can easily undo a lot of the hard work that I put in earlier in the week."

I see the difference, and I hope this makes sense to you, too. I don't feel derailed, and now I'll be more inspired to purchase tasty, healthy goods when I grocery shop tomorrow :) My meals will include foods that are lean, mean, and definitely green!

I hope your Friday was spent with good company, good food, and a good time. Ta ta!

P.S. What's your favorite indulgent restaurant? I have a really hard time resisting Olive Garden and P.F. Chang's and, in fact, I usually don't resist!

P.P.S. Thanks for your tweets and texts yesterday. I'm glad some of you could empathize with my post. These blog and Twitter communities are so supportive, and for that, I thank you!

Worn Out Wednesday

You know those mornings that you have a hard time telling yourself to stop hitting the snooze button and actually get up? And it feels like you never slept a wink? That day is today, my blends.

Last night, my stress level unexpectedly rose from 3 to 7. I'm not too great at dealing with added assignments that weren't initially on the syllabus, particularly when the work falls vastly outside of my comfort zone. I'm working on accepting new assignments without having a panic attack (figuratively sspeaking), as well as being grateful for the amount of free time I have in which to complete everything I need to do. For example, today will be a very busy day, but it is my day off. No need to fret, am I right?

Thank goodness for Jennifer and Kristin helping me maintain my sanity!

I like to combat stress by winding down from class or a hectic day with a little TV, like Dance Moms. That show can destress anybody -- thank the Lord I do not have any Abby Lee Millers in my life!

Scary!

Lastly, I wanted to share with y'all the training schedule I made. I've only mapped out the first five weeks, but the idea of an established plan laid out for me helps ease some of my stress:

In case you're wondering, I've decided to operate on a Plan and Ran system. The training program is laid out exactly as directed in the highlighted Plan sections. The Ran sections are for days when I decide not to run, am unable to work out, or decide to work out on "off" days. I feel that I've given myself some flexibility here while also allowing the training plan to do its job. If all goes as planned, I'll be prepared for more like a 10K at the end of this training program.

Whether you're having a Worn Out Wednesday, a Whacky Wednesday, a Wonderful Wednesday, or a regular old Wednesday, I hope it's great! :)

P.S. Do you watch Dance Moms? If not, check it out just once -- now that's stress and pressure! Are you good at adapting to a new agenda without warning? I'm trying my best to teach myself how.

P.P.S. Your thoughts/critiques/suggestions on the blog's facelift?

New Day, 5K

It seems that a lot of healthy living bloggers and readers are tired of everyone posting pictures, semi-novels, and extensive discussions of what they ate, how they prepared it, where they ate it, with whom they ate it, etc. Well, I'm new to this game, and I'm enjoying posting these sorts of things.

I've seen lots of bloggers posting W.I.A.W. (What I Ate Wednesday) and other types of weekly gigs, but I think I'll stick with my same-old-same (for now). I'm actually enjoying reading labels, calculating vitamins and minerals, meal-planning and mindful grocery shopping, researching tips and exercise regimens, and living a healthy, energized lifestyle.

On that note, I began my 5K training program this morning with my long-distance accountability buddy, Lauren!

We're working on different programs, but we're still working toward the same 5K goal. She's a perfect buddy for me, because we're both novice runners.

Today's plan called for a 15-minute run, which sounded great to me. Easy, actually. As I mentioned previously, I like the gradual nature of this program, as well as its increasing time (as opposed to distance) increments. Dad and I are talking about participating in some 5Ks this spring and summer, and so are Lauren and I. Dad reminded me not to think of them so much as a "race," but rather a philanthropy event. I'm quite familiar with philanthropy... Ronald McDonald House, anyone? Most of the Richmond-based events are looking for high participation rates and contribution to a cause, rather than the world's fastest sprinters. I can really appreciate his perspective while, at the same time, still wanting to complete a 5K sans walk breaks. Everybody has to start somewhere!

As of today, I'm 0.66 miles away from accomplishing my goal of 25 miles in the last 15 days of January. Tomorrow is supposed to be an "off" day, but as it's the last day of the month, I'm planning to use it to power-walk and do some strength training.

As far as mental well-being is concerned, I registered for the 2012 V.A.C.E.S. Graduate Student Conference this morning, which will be held February 25 at Lynchburg College. The conference, which is a subset of the Virginia Counselors Association, will feature 35 workshop sessions, 10 poster presentations, and participants from 12 counselor education programs. I can't say I'm thrilled to spend 7 hours on a Saturday at a conference, but there are always the prospects of networking, learning about my chosen field, and taking advantage of opportunities that are right in front of me. Besides, two of my closest graduate school friends, Jennifer and Kristin, will be right there beside me.

If you are in a counselor education program or you are considering such a program, the conference costs $30, which includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Click here for more information.

I'm off to enjoy some of my new cereal topped with fresh blueberries and Truvia, plus a Chobani and some Dunkin, of course! Have a happy Monday!

P.S. Have you ever participated in or attended a professional conference? If so, was your experience positive or negative? Would you attend an all-day conference on a Saturday?

One More Lonely Girl

I wish that Ian had had a camera handy to capture the expression on my face after my first bite of Cucumber Dill Feta Greek yogurt dip and blue chips. I believe the words I was looking for were, "Blehhh!" I tried a few more anyway, just to be sure, and they weren't so bad. I think there were just a lot of new flavors to figure out. Dill can definitely overwhelm other flavors quickly. I haven't written either food off, and I'm sure I'll be snacking again soon. I did love the California Pizza Kitchen thin crust white pizza we splurged on for lunch:

One-third of such a delicacy is 290 cals, so the only reason I agreed was because it had tons of spinach (and thin crust is my favorite). I also enjoyed one of Chobani's new flavors, Blood Orange. It's not my favorite--no flavor can replace my beloved pomegranate--but it was new and different, which is my thing these days!

RANDOM -- I learned several "help yourself stop snacking" tips the other day from @OMGFacts via Twitter. For starters, eat from a plate or bowl rather than directly from the bag or container. That way, you can tell exactly how much you're consuming. Also, use your non-dominant hand to eat. You're less likely to mindlessly munch if you have to do things differently or think about what you're doing. Pretty cool, huh?

Getting down to business...
I always feel lonely on Sundays when guests leave. There they go, driving off back to their lives of busyness and activity, and here I still am, cleaning up and organizing and finding something fascinating to watch on TV. Passing time until 11:00 isn't always easy, especially when there isn't much I need to be doing. Since it's the beginning of a new semester, schoolwork is light, and I usually have little, if any, homework to complete between Friday afternoon and Monday afternoon. I did the laundry and the straightening up while Ian was still here, so come 3:00, we walked out the door together.
Today, I decided to spice things up by hitting the gym on a Sunday. I was stoked to don my tennis shoes and hit the treadmill to actually RUN! I hadn't run in 10 days, and I was definitely missing it. I did a quick 1.4 miles; my 5K training program calls for beginning with 15-minute runs, so I thought I'd "warm up" the day before officially beginning to test the waters with my knees and toe. I'm still a bit sore, but everything was A-okay! Boy, what a great feeling!

DISCLAIMER -- I'm doing my absolute best to be an honest healthy living blogger. That being said, I actually do enjoy running and working out. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I exercise because it's become a passion of mine, not because I feel obligated or guilt-tripped.

Well, it looks like I'll be one (slightly less) lonely girl this evening. Perhaps it's time to sit down with some pleasure reading, for once. I got two books for Christmas that I've been looking forward to beginning. Enjoy this gorgeous Sunday, blends!

P.S. When you splurge on pizza, how do you make it healthier? What are your favorite indulgent toppings?

"You're Hot, Then You're Cold..."

Nah, sorry. This post actually has nothing to do with Katy Perry. It has everything to do with my big toe! I'm actually not joking...

The squeamish should look away!
The weak of stomach should click out!
The faint of heart should read no further!
----------------------------------------------------------
Okay, you get the picture. If you're still reading, you're about to see some frank and unsavory pictures of my humiliating injuries. If you read Fraturday & Funday you know that I hurt my knees, my toe, and my ego pretty badly on Saturday evening. The fact is, I did more than bruise. This was taken after four days' healing:

It may not look that bad, but I'm missing the vast majority of my right knee. I also had no idea the area would swell and stiffen to the point that bending my knee (and sitting still in class for 2.5 hours at a time) was albeit impossible.
Ian (and probably others) will tell you that I'm a huge baby when it comes to pain. I flat-out refused to allow him to clean the wounds with alcohol pads or peroxide. I cringed and winced through his entire drawn-out process of applying Neosporin and bandages to the cuts. I whined the next day and limped around campus. Definitely indicative of a baby, yes? As it turns out, I wasn't a baby for naught! These cuts happened through my jeans and my Uggs. I wouldn't have thought it possible to bust your toenail through a knitted boot...

I'm not sure what's going on with my toe, but it seemed like everything was going swimmingly until today. All hopes are that tomorrow will be better.

I may not be great at handling pain, but I was firm about continuing my workouts this week. I thought that some exercise would help me feel better about not being able to initiate 5K training as I had planned, plus sweat out some frustration (and whining!). Running has been out of the question all week, especially since walking is only now beginning to feel more natural.
Despite all of this wallowing, I didn't allow my self-pity to stop me from hitting the gym! I completed my strength training workout on Monday, minus the stretches and planks. On Tuesday, things were feeling pretty great, so I did 4 miles (about 30 minutes) on the elliptical. Today I completed an almost-back-to-normal strength training circuit.
I've been icing my knees and my toe after my workouts in the morning, before class (when my knees tend to stiffen and swell a lot), and before bed. I soak as often and as long as I can when I have time for baths. Ian recommended soaks in Epsom salts, but I haven't had time to grab any.
My long-distance accountability buddy, Lauren, and I are still hoping to begin 5K training on Monday. If you have any tips besides regular alternating of heat and ice plus rest, I'd love to hear 'em!

P.S. Have you ever suffered an injury that forced you to stop or alter your exercise routine? How did you compensate for missed workouts?
P.P.S. Sorry about the gross pics!