5k Numero Dos Prep

Last Thursday, I ran a 5k in under 35:00 -- the goal Dad and I set for ourselves for the Vinton 5k -- for the first time ever.

Please excuse me while I toot my own horn (toot, toooot!) but I was pretty stoked. To be honest, I wasn't sure 3.1 miles in 35 minutes was doable for me right now. I haven't trained for this race like I did the Susan Komen race in May, and I've been experiencing troubles with my blood sugar.

 

Now I'm just making excuses.

 

But now that I know that it is doable, I'm feeling more ready than ever. I'm also pretty stoked to have a time goal; for the 5k in May, my goal was simply to run/jog the entire distance. This time around, my goal is both!

Dad's been very encouraging throughout my prep for this race. He and I trained separately, though I sent him frequent updates. Essentially, even for a 5k, I focused on getting myself back to that comfortable place with the distance. Then I worked on shaving off time and pacing myself at faster speeds. I haven't had a set running schedule, but I knew that the harder I pushed myself in the weeks before the race (within reason), the more relaxed I'd feel on race day.
This week, per Dad's suggestion, I'll run 3.1 miles this morning, and I'll do some half-mile sprints Wednesday and Thursday. Friday, of course, will be my day off. Saturday is R-A-C-E D-A-Y!

So why am I laying all this out so far in advance? Well, this weekend is my sister's and my Fall Break, which my family and I are spending at Smith Mountain Lake (hence the Vinton Fall Festival). We probably won't have Internet access, so I'll report on the race -- and the ridiculous number of ensuing pancakes I plan to scarf -- sometime next week.

Happy Tuesday!

Countdown to race day: T-minus 4



Presen-say-wha...?

One of the things that terrifies me most in this world is giving presentations. I can't pinpoint what it is that makes me so nervous... other than everything.

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I'm just positive I'll forget my presentation, even though I've emailed it to myself, saved it on a flash drive, and brought my laptop with me.

I know I'll stumble over historical figures' names (you try pronouncing Eugen Bleuler's name correctly) and look like an ignoramus in front of my colleagues.

It's obvious to everyone that my face is redder than a tomato, and now my neck is getting all splotchy...

My professor must know I keep checking the clock to stay within my time limit.

My project partner is much more natural at this, so I look like a fumbling, bumbling idiot.

See what I mean?

 

One of the greatest experiences of my college career was serving as a Peer Mentor, a delegate for the Office of First-Year Experience at Longwood. The first year I served, I was a junior with a class of 10 very disinterested College of Business and Economics students (about which I know zip). I co-taught the class with the Vice President for Student Affairs -- yowza! The second year I served, I landed one of two coveted spots in the Psychology department working alongside two of the most influential professors I've ever had. I had the responsibility of co-teaching and managing 15 half-interested Psychology majors with smart-ass attitudes. It wasn't my first rodeo, and I had a better handle on how to "deal" with freshmen.
Out of these experiences, I gained a sense of competence in public speaking. I learned how to carry myself in order to project confidence, even when I'm drop-dead nervous. I learned how to practice until I was blue in the face so as to rely less on notes. I learned how to be present with my audience instead of focusing on the next thing to say or do. Above all, I learned that nobody gives a perfect presentation, and that with time and experience comes the feeling of less anxiety with each presentation.
(Between you and me, I think I'd rather address board rooms of disgruntled CEOs for the rest of my life than a classroom of gum-snapping, eye-rolling, half-asleep, pissed-off college freshmen who have better places to be.)

 

During my first year of grad school, one of my classmates introduced me to the magical presentation world of Prezi, which one of my current professors refers to as "PowerPoint on crack." In case you're not familiar with Prezi, it's a website you can use collaboratively to design presentations that are more naturally animated. Prezi allows you to add movement to a presentation without it looking goofy or overdone. Trust me, I am not a tech-savvy lady (I don't know whether I've ever emphasized mentioned that before...) and even I can use this site!

Prezi has been a real life-saver, as my project partners as I have increasingly conflicting schedules and busier lives. We can't always set aside time to work together physically, but that's the beauty of Prezi. I can add my assigned components, save the Prezi, and check in on things online as my partners add their components from different locations. Neat, huh?

I'm not saying I'll ever be good at public speaking or giving presentations, but with neat little tips and tricks like Prezi, I'm well on my way to feeling less like fainting each time ;)

P.S. Do you like public speaking? If so, do you have any pointers?!

Sweet Relief

Well, I'm not in the clear just yet. The nurse drew four vials of blood this morning, which definitely made me a little woozy. Ian said, Don't be a weiner! in response to my text-messaged pictures of a bandaged arm and a cotton-ball-and-Band-Aid-covered hand. Hey, I bruise like a peach and needles and I don't get along! I'll spare you the visual aids I sent Ian...

 

I'm feeling relieved after my appointment, though. My doctor is awesome. When she didn't immediately report that I was dying, I already started to feel better. She normalized all of my concerns and discussed all possible reasons behind the near-constant hunger I've been experiencing:

Due to my BC containing a dose of iron, I may have developed anemia when I switched from the brand-name to the generic product.

I won't delve into "lady business" issues any more than I already have, but it may be a contributing factor to anemia.

Eating five small meals a day as opposed to three larger ones should be helping, but it doesn't explain my need for snacks or the feelings (i.e. spotty vision, weakness, lightheadedness, wooziness) associated with low blood sugar.

My healthy "diet" should be benefiting me as well, but only time and my lab results will tell the tale.

I have never been officially diagnosed with hypoglycemia, but the answer could be as simple as that.

Running 2-4 miles per day has upped my metabolism, which could simply mean that even as much as I'm eating, I'm losing weight -- which means I'm still not eating enough. Hooray for weight-loss and an excuse to eat!

 

My bloodwork is expected back from the lab by the middle of next week, so I should have some answers to go with my questions! I'm just sure you're on pins and needles to know what's up, so I'll be sure to share ;) 

In the meantime, I have two very purple bruises that make me look a bit like a needle-sharing addict... Here's to hoping people's assumptions are kind!

 

P.S. What are you up to this weekend? My parents and Ian and I have a low-key weekend planned, and I'm really looking forward to a little R&R.

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!!

The Kroger Chronicles

I've been receiving requests for info and questions about where I grocery shop and the types of foods I buy, so I thought, why not write about my most recent Kroger expedition? I went Monday afternoon before class. I broke my cardinal rule of never shopping on an empty stomach, but surprisingly, I stuck to my list (my other cardinal rule).

Disclaimer: While I consider most of the following items staples in my "diet," not all of these items are ones which I purchase on every grocery shopping trip. I used Monday's trip as a snapshot of the types of foods I buy on a regular basis.

Salad fixings and fresh veggies are staples in my fridge. Sometimes I treat myself to extras to spice up a salad -- like these pecan pieces and Italian pine nuts -- but I always stock baby spinach, organic tomato, cucumber, celery, baby carrots, and vidalia onion.

I always have some type of fresh fruit. It's usually bananas that are still too green to eat, strawberries, or blueberries. Recently, I've begun buying frozen freestone peaches or triple-berry mixes. Frozen fruit is perfect for after class when I'm craving ice cream; it's cold, flavorful, and still nutritious. Unfortunately, it's also expensive, but that's where freezing my own pre-portioned fruit could come in handy.

I discovered KIND bars 8 or 9 months ago, and it was love at first bite. They're a bit high in the calorie department (120-200) for me, but they're incredibly good, and they're packed with goodies like protein and fiber. They're perfect in-class snacks, and their huge variety of flavors and ingredients (e.g. cashews, pistachios, sesame seeds, pecans) keeps me interested. These babies come in really handy in a pinch when my blood sugar drops quickly.

Since I began eating meat about 10 months ago, 90% of my cravings are for chicken. I keep a bag of the boneless, skinless variety in the freezer; this type of meat is preferable because of its versatility. I don't usually stock salmon, but it's such a great source of Omega-3s, I don't pass it up when it's on sale. I usually bake it in Balsamic Vinaigrette and eat it atop a salad. It's great fuel that keeps me full and feeling good for hours.

(Secret Time: I like the way the single piece of fish looks wrapped up in wax paper. It reminds me of old-timey movies or TV shows when everybody carried one paper grocery bag with the leafy greens of the carrots sticking out of the top.)

Odwalla and Naked smoothies and drinks are "special occasion" treats because of their expense ($3-5 apiece) and their high caloric content. They're supposed to suffice as a meal or a hearty between-meals supplement, but they don't keep me full. On the plus side, they're absolutely saturated with nutrients, vitamins, veggies, and fruit, so I can't be too mad at them...

These Greek yogurt treats are also considered special occasion goodies. Between 100-150 calories apiece, they're great sources of calcium and vitamin D. I bought these because they were 10/$10, and because they taste like dessert without the dessert hurt-factor.

Chobani, however, is an absolute necessity for me. There is never a time that I'm without my beloved Chobani, particularly the pomegranate, mango, and pineapple flavors. If I have them on hand, I love to add granola and/or chia seeds to my morning Chobani.

I alternate between SoBe Life Water, Vitamin Water Zero (and the Kroger brand), and Propel Zero. It depends on which brand is on sale and which flavors I'm craving. Generally speaking, I buy Vitamin Water most frequently. I'm quite certain Kroger misses me single-handedly keeping these sections of the store in business, but my Brita has saved me a boatload of money and tossed plastic bottles. Having a Brita also ensures that I always have cold, fresh water, which has upped my per diem water intake significantly.

 I try to buy heart-healthy soups that are low in sodium, but admittedly, my favorite flavors are rich in sodium (i.e. Campbell's French Onion, which has half of my RDV of sodium). I also look for limited-time seasonally flavored soups. I wasn't feeling risky enough to try the orange tomato variety I saw, but there's always next time ;) One of my favorite meals is soup over brown or white rice.

Milk -- another staple in my diet. I don't drink milk nearly as often as I used to, but I eat cereal quite a bit. I always buy skim, always a half-gallon. I'm that girl who elbows old ladies out of the way to strong-arm her way to the very back of the case for the jug with the longest expiration date.

I used to consume more cheese than you would ever believe. I have a mild obsession with Swiss... so anyway, I try to make it a policy not to have more than two types of readily consumable cheese on hand at any given time (e.g. Swiss slices and spreadable sharp cheddar). Occasionally, I'll buy crumbled feta or bleu cheese to add to salads or to top veggie burgers. One of my all-time favorite veggie burger combos includes a toasted bun of some sort, cucumber slices, tomato slices, baby spinach, hummus, and cheese crumbles atop the patty.

And last but certainly not least... I discovered Sandwich Thins 6-8 months ago, and I've never looked back. With all of the 100-calorie varieties, I don't have a need to buy sliced bread or buns anymore. These are versatile, too -- I use them as toast with margarine and jam, burger buns, breakfast rounds topped with Nutella and banana slices, sandwich bread, etc.

Disclaimer Two: I'm not a calorie-counting fiend, I promise! It just helps to know exactly what you're putting into your body so you know what you can expect out of your diet. I've learned so much just by reading labels and doing basic research. Once you get into a routine and you start buying a lot of the same foods regularly, you pretty much know the nutritional value without having to read labels every time.

 

If you had questions, I hope this helps! If not, you've gotten a glimpse into my pantry :)

Please feel free to continue emailing, tweeting, commenting or texting questions. Happy Hump Day!