Back at it!

*blowing the dust off* 

Hey there! So there were some bumps in the road (surgery and long hospital stay for the kiddo), then there was some fun (2 week lake vacation) but hopefully things have settled and I can start posting regularly again! During my time away I did learn a few things.

1. Running hurts. Like more than just being sore. I am not sure if it the extra weight that I am hauling around, am I wearing the wrong shoes or should I see a podiatrist? Well I am working trough this but for right now I am biking and that is AWESOME!

2. Biking is AWESOME! So someday I want to do a sprint tri so since running 3 to 4 times a week was killing my knees and feet I started biking (needed to start sometime anyway). I feel like I get a work out. I can get my heart rate up, I switch up the gears as it gets easier so my legs are always working hard and have tried out some areas with some elevation to keep it challenging! I feel soreness but not pain!

3. I need a schedule. I find myself at the end of the day trying to figure out when I am going to get my workout in! I think, "ok...lets go now", then I look at the clock it is the heat of the day. Then the next time I try it is time to get dinner ready or I was lazy earlier and didn't do anything so now I have lots to catch up on! Anyway...I need to dedicate a specific time for everything that needs to get done and STICK TO IT!

I just keep keeping on! Exercise is the only real way to be healthy and lose weight (there are things that assist in weight loss and health but nothing will really work with out a little sweat) and there are thousands of benefits. Sure for lots of us the motivation comes in spurts but it comes and that is the important part. Some of us love the gym and happily go there everyday with out fail! Just remember that anything is better than nothing!

Small Victories

I completed my first race yesterday.
It was just a 1k (.6 something of a mile) but I did it.
It took a long time.
What I learned yesterday was that my time didn't matter.
It mattered that I got out there.
I have to start somewhere and a slow 1/2 mile is where I am right now.
I thought I would be embarrassed by being so slow but I wasn't.
People were still cheering when I came across the finish line and Will (who could have ran the race in a 1/4 of  time) stayed right by my side and let me set the pace.
Everyone out there was working at a different pace.

My Point: Don't wait till you can run a race well. Run it now to push yourself. 

I didn't do great by some standards but I hit a personal best.
I did better than I thought that I could and it made me want to keep up the hard work.
Toward the end I thought I was done for. I didn't want to run trough the end.
Then I saw the finish line and just took off!
I don't get that feeling when I finish a run in my neighborhood.

I have my first 5k on May 15th and I probably won't be able to run the entire thing but I will be out there doing my best, taking the next step and I won't be alone. There will be other run/walkers out there just like me.

So get out there...you won't be alone!

Couch to 5k

I am not a runner.
Not even a jogger.
I love to walk.
I love the elliptical.
I like to bike.
I don't like to run.

All that being said, I suddenly feel compelled to train to run a 5k. Yeah, I can't explain it but I'm so into it and excited!
I'm using Active.com's couch to 5k app. I'm a week in and I feel like my $2.99 was well spent.
The idea of the program is to slowly bring you into the runner's fold with 3 workouts per week for 9 weeks.
For example: this week my workout was 30 minutes long and began and ended with a 5 min walk. During the 20 minutes between I alternated jogging and walking. The jog was a minute long and the walk was a minute and a half. {All you have to do is grab your headphones and the app will prompt you when to run and when to walk. The app will even access your tunes so you can create a perfect 30 minute playlist.}
In the coming weeks the the jog will increase and the walk will decrease, culminating in me {hopefully} rocking a 30 min run!
I will admit that week one was hard. I am soooo out of shape.

{I need to take a moment and be sad because a year ago I was pregnant, doing yoga, going to the gym and I birthed a baby...sans epidural. I was in pretty darn good shape and I am 30 pounds heavier than the day I delivered. Let's be more sad and say that I lost a lot of weight while I was pregnant, in a healthy way, so I was a head of the game... moving on}

However, I did not see myself doing all of the runs that first day. But I did. When the little voice in my head said "Alright,  let's jog" I did it! At the end I was winded and tired but felt pretty awesome!
I will keep you posted but I feel good about this program! We have our first race on Saturday, just a 1k, but I am so excited!

HERE'S TO FULL ON RUNNING A 5K IN JUNE...IN TEXAS. Wait...we may have to rethink this ;)

My new adventure.

Since I last blogged here I:

Lost weight
Lived a very active lifestyle
Moved from Massachusetts to Texas
Had a wonderful pregnancy {I lost about 20  more pounds}
Gave birth to a beautiful baby girl
Lost some more weight
Gained 30+ lbs in less than 6 months
Was diagnosed with diabetes

It is that last one that has prompted me to come back to this neglected blog. I am a diabetic. It is in my genes, grandparents on both sides. Diabetes claimed my paternal grandmother's life in her early 60s. My parents are in their early 60s. They are just now getting to experience the the joys of grandchildren. They have so much life a head of them.

I know someday I will die. But it will not be because I didn't take cake of myself. I am making a change. My doctor believes that with a healthy diet and lots of exercise that I can lose a significant amount of weight and lower my blood sugars to avoid any medical intervention in managing my diabetes.

So here I am. Ready to start my new adventure.