I have had a very long day and now it is 8pm My three kids are just getting settled and I'm exhausted. I did not get a chance to go for my run tonight and I have to say that I feel awful...in body and in spirit.

That half hour to myself even in the afternoon really does refresh me. Today however it was an extremily hot 14 hour day after a long night of waking up several times.

I'm pooped.

Hopefully tommorrow I can get in a run and maybe a bike ride with Cheryl. I need it. I need the unwinding. I was too wound up tonight and I don't like the person I become.

Exercise truly is my form of release and relaxation.

A necessity

I managed to squeeze in a bike ride today. These are the days it is difficult but necessary to get out. Adam is working nights so he is sleeping during the day and leaves in the afternoon to go back to work. I left as soon as he woke up at 3pm and he left for work as soon as I returned. But it is worth it. I get a half hour to recharge my batteries before the kids get up from naps.

I don't see my husband much on these days. I will see him plenty when he is off for five days in a row so I would much rather juggle our time a little more and be in a great mood.

So...sacrifice?? a little but really in the end everyone benefits. I get to refresh so my kids get a happier mom, and my husband can relax at work knowing that I'm o.k with staying with them for another 24 hours.
I have to admit that it is a terrible feeling when I feel trapped inside the house. That knawing feeling I get sometimes that my life is all about the little people and I question where on earth 'I' went. I hate resenting them and my position in life and if a half hour run/bike a day cures me of that then I'll take it.

That is definitely worth the effort...that motivation also helps me get my butt out the door when I would rather lay on the couch. I know everyone will benefit....not just myself.

I miss my running and biking partner though. I like unwinding at the end of a day and chatting through our work out. I just saw her run past my window so at least we can cheer each other on in spirit.

looks like she had a great run :)

Just back from a Run

I went for my very hot and sweaty run. It felt o.k and was much better with Adam tagging along. If he were not with me I would have stopped due to the heat. my lungs were fine, and so was my body as we took it really slow. It was just as hot as hot can be and felt like we were swimming through the air.
But I just took a cold shower and now Adam is off to work and I feel great. I am rejuvanated for the rest of the afternoon and the evening with the kids.

My friend Emma was visiting yesterday and today if you are wondering how I was able to run with hubby and no children. She did not mind being in the house while we took off for 27mins while all three kids were sleeping.

That is one thing to keep in mind. So what if you have visitors for a few days. You don't need to be on top of each other 24/7 so stick to your program and routine. You will be a great example to them and your kids that your health is a priority. Maybe you will motivate them to join you in your run/walk/bike if there is someone to watch the kiddos.

I've got the kids to myself now untill tomorrow afternoon so the .5 hour break to recharge myself is a necessity. I'm glad I got it while I could.....even if it was HOT HOT HOT!!!!

HOT HOT HOT...no not me...the weather

It is really hot out today but I MUST GO FOR MY RUN!!
I refuse to let the heat be an excuse for me. Adam is working nights right now so the ONLY time I can go is around 3pm!!! Sooooo hot but I'll be sweaty anyway right? and I can jump into a cold shower after right?
I don't waaaaaannnnnaaaaa!!!!!

But I will because I am determined to keep going.

skunk attacks

I ran 3(8:1) Tonight. See my program if you don't know what I am talking about.

It started off slow and I thought it was going to be tough but ended up incredibly easy. yay for me!

The cool breeze and beautiful sunset definitely helped.

Last night I was doing my bike ride and almost ran into a skunk!! It was walking across the road so I kind of did a deer in headlights thing and stopped. Then it stopped and turned towards me!!! I panicked and started to bike as fast as it could. I think I saw a tail go up for out ran it.....phew!!!

I'm glad I did not run into any man eating dogs this time. Yay for that as well :)

Pushing on

I run/bike to have some quiet time. Some time to listen to myself breath and to allow my mind to imagine and sort through things.

Exercise is a way to get my mind off the rest of the world, and sometimes my mind helps me stop focusing on the exercise I'm doing.....and how much I'm hurting!!! LIKE WHEN GOING UPHILL AND THE WIND IS BLOWING IN MY FACE...HARD.
Yes sometimes my mind keeps me going is so many ways.

Me Time

I'm still able to work out for half an hour six days a week even with Adam back to work. I love that I just have to head out the door for a run or a bike and don't need to drive to a gym or anything. That really cuts down on the time. I mostly go when Adam has a moment to watch all the kids. If not about once a week I get grandma to walk down the road and watch them for me. That is a definite bonus for living here and so appreciated.

I'm not sure what I will do when Adam leaves for training in the fall. I will probaby cut my work outs to twice a week and go for an hour. The kids can stay with grandma and that will be my alone time....and stress reliever.

I'm am always so amazed at the amount of energy and calm I get from working out regularly. I have so much patience and I'm more loving in general. I think this fall especially since I will be by myself with the 3, it will be a necessity.

Every time I head outside I am so grateful to the Lord for allowing me to use my legs. You see three years ago I was paralyzed from the waist down after a removal of a tumor from my spine. Knowing me I would have found another way to keep active, but thank you lord for allowing me to run. really....thanks.

Yay! some pants for me!!!

So...I finaly fit into a pair of pants!!! no they are not my goal pants, but they are a pair of pants! yay for me!! The extra cycling has been paying off and I'm a happy camper this morning.
I weighed myself and this morning I was 128. yay. 8 more pounds to go. I'll take a pic of me in my goal jeans sometime this weekend.
oh happy day.

My run last night was horrible. I had absolutely no energy and it hurt...just hurt. Am I doing too much? I was going so slow that I did not feel like I was working out but I guess my body needed to rest instead.
I am quite emotional these days however, so maybe it is hormones. Quite possibly.
Today is a new day and I will go for a leisurly bike ride with a good friend. That should cure any poor mood.
If it is raining I will do some yoga and go to bed early. That may be better for me than anything.

take care
me

Progress

So. Peyton will be 10 weeks this coming sunday and I will have been exercising for 4 weeks. I will post a jean pic to see how those things are fitting. No they don't fit yet, but I think I can almost get them done up :)

I have been running three times a week and I'm running 4(7:1). I have been finding that my knee has been quite sore after a run. I had bursitis in my left knee for a year before I became pregnant again and I think it is back!!! Sooooo frustrating.
So...I am watching my techniquie, making sure I stretch my hamstrings much better than I have been and I've HAD TO SLOW DOWN!!!
The last one is very hard for me to do. I don't feel like I am 'working out' unless I have a good sweat on and I'm breathing hard, so I think I've been pushing myself too hard too soon.
So.... yesterday I went out at an excrutiatingly (sp?) slow pace and just watched my form. I did 5km in about 30mins. Voila!!! my knee feels great today. Yay for me.

I have also been biking around the block (10kms) the days I am not running. My running partner is taking a break so we bike together. This is helping me strengthen my quads which I think is also helping my knee quite alot. That and the stretching.

All in all I am doing 30mins of exercise 6days a week and resting completely one day. I have not weighed myself yet but I will this monday after a total of 4 weeks of working out. I am frustrated that it has come off slower than my previous pregnancies but I can slowly feel changes. I just started adding the cycling so I think in 2 weeks time that will make a huge difference.

That is it for now.

Newton's law

Bodies at Rest like to stay at rest. Bodies in motion like to stay in motion

Ah Newton's law. Especially true when you are trying to pry your butt off the couch to go for that run. Some days it is really hard to get motivated to go. Even the first 10 minutes of a run sometimes feel like I weigh a ton. However, as soon as my blood starts pumping and my legs are in motion all systems kick in and I feel terrific at the end of that run.

This law holds true in life as well....once you start moving you will never want to be sedentary again. I can promise you that. Even Newton would agree with me.

Ran my last 4(6:1) for a total of 24mins running..28mins total. It felt great. My lungs have absolutely no problem chug chugging along, and to be honest my legs loved it. my knee is slightly sore but I think I just need to do alot more hamstring stretching when I'm done. I think I'm going to force myself to do some yoga the days between runs.
It is hard to believe that two years ago I took my last puff of my Asthma Inhalor. You see I was diagnosed with sports induced asthma when I was about 12. I was figure skating and I was finding it harder and harder to breath everytime I went out onto the ice. Since then everytime I ran or did physical activity I HAD to have my puffer. Especially in the winter. It was awful if I forgot it. For years I have always taken a preventative puff before a run. Two summers ago however I decided to see what would happen if I didn't. It was a humid day and it was not so bad. A little weezy but nothing I could not handle. It slowly got better and since then I have not needed a puffer.
Now some may say I fixed it by exercising my lungs. I would say that is partially true. I think that IN COMBINATION with growing older and MOVING OUT OF MY PARENTS SMOKEY HOUSE!!! I think that may have been a factor. The years after I moved out it slowly got better. Go figure. That and the ''chronic Rhinitis'' I was also diagnosed with in high school. You see I always seemed nasaly and stuffed up, and the doc told me that was what I had. Rhinitis is just a fancy word for Stuffed up :) funny how that dissapeared when I moved away from home and went to University.
I love how nobody blamed the smoking environment I was in......just gave me medications to manage it. Oh well. Different generation I suppose.
I thank God that I am no longer on puffers and thank God I have the ability to run every day.

God is so good and knows exactly what I need. Yes I went for my run...and yes it was hot. But just as I headed out the sun went behind some haze and the wind kicked up. I ran my best run yet, and as soon as I returned I headed for the cool breeze in our backyard. It was quiet...still and peaceful. There was just me, the sky, and some corn. Those are the moments when I can 'be still and feel God's presence'.
reason # 13 to Run......
Clarity of mind. It was just me out there. I could dance a little to my music on my mp3 and do some yoga without fear of anyone making fun of me. It was great. Running just got my heart pumping and my lungs clear for that experience.

If that does not inspire me to go for my next run I don't know what else will.

Going for a run tonight. I DON'T WANT TO!!!!!!!!!
It is 40c out there so I need to wait untill the sun sets a little. Then I will soak in a cold bath. The cold bath helps to relieve swelling from my knee for sure.

I also have a full belly from supper so I need to wait a few hours. tonight I had BBQ chicken, and potatoes, and a yummy spinach salad. I've been making my own salad dressings to cut down on preservatives and such and I think I added a little too much garlic :) Maybe it is a good thing I am running alone tonght :)

I think I will do a run down of my diet next week. I weighed myself yesterday and my weight is stabilized at 130. I think I'm still shrinking a little (I'll do another pants shot soon) but really not fast enought for my taste. So..next week I'll concentrate on diet. No go on a diet, but just making sure I'm eating well.

Anyhoo off I go soon for a run.....blah :(

This site is supposed to be motivating isn't it? sorry. I am motivating myself by writing down that I am going. Now I can't get away with not going or you will all (my two readers) sent me nasty messages :)

run number six

Run number six today and it sucked!!! sorry for the language but it did. It is hot and sticky and I had to go alone. I feel o.k but I did not like doing it by myself. So much more fun with my fabulous running partner.
I feel o.k and feel like I am slowly....slowly losing some weight. No my pants still don't fit but I think my tummy is shrinking ever so slightly. I am afraid to weight myself on monday. last monday I was still 130 and fear dissapointment if there is no furthur progress. If I am 130 I will re-evalutae my diet.
I guess eating 6 dark chocolate truffles in one day does not help weight loss after all :)

Cravings

I want to eat....I want to eat...I want to eat. I am avoiding the kitchen and trying to keep myself occupied so I stop picking. It is 330 and supper will be soon. It is also raining and the kids are all occupied doing things. So here I am....restless. I have been wanting to eat all day and doing all I can to stop. Don't get me wrong, I ate breakfast, lunch ect but for some reason I just feel like eating today. And no I'm not hungry. Hrmph.
I even gave in a little and ate my once a day dark chocolate truffle. So no more yummy chocolate treats. Thank God there is no junk food in the house. Today is the day I would eat the entire bag.
I just have to make it until supper.

Pushing past the comfort zone

Run number 5 just kicked my butt and it felt amazing!!!! We pushed ourselves today. we went out 6( 4:1). It is hot and sunny and wow it was hard. The good part was that nothing hurt! We just lacked energy which is great because it means we pushed ourselves a little. That is what training is all about. Pushing yourself just a little past your comfort zone in order to improve. I am fighting a little bug and feel like I need to throw up now but all is good :) Actually I think I'll be just fine as soon as I eat breakfast.

yay for us. It feels so good to be running again.

Oh, and I took the baby with us in the jogging stroller. He screamed the entire time and fell asleep right at the end. That is the way it goes. He was fine :)

Knee problems

Start running 4(4:1) yesterday. I felt great. I even kept going a little further after we were finished just to push a little more. My lungs are not what will hold me down. It is definitely my left knee again. So far I have had no pain after a run but today I can feel my knee. Before I became pregnant I was suffering from some bursitis and had gone through some physiotherapy. Hmmm the fact that I am feeling it again worries me. I am wearing the same shoes so perhaps it is time for a new pair. I would be devastated if I developed chronic knee problems. I'll just keep an eye on it.
I'll have to make sure I rest and not do any extra running for now. Hopefully after tomorrows run I'll feel better.