Work In Progress - FitoverForty

[fitoverforty]

First out door run of the New Year today - total 3.5 miles.
I was all set to go & 3 steps into it Mp3 player died...ugh.
Forced to muddle through own brainwaves and listen to own thoughts...I focused on how beautiful the day was, how nice the cool crisp air mixed with the warm sunshine felt on face, and how great it felt to be running again.
I didn't cry as I had expected I might, but reflected on the past few months and all that has happened. With every step I felt so many emotions. Sadness, Anger, Sorrow, slowly replaced with Hope, Strength, Determination and most of all...Appreciation for life, health, and for being strong in the midst of life's toughest blow so far.
It felt right to be running, I felt like me and it made me happy, and i realized it's okay to feel happy, it's okay to feel strong, to feel alive. dad was all around me, in thoughts, in the very strength I felt with every step I took, every mile I ran.
It was a good day to run.

[Bonnie]

That was beautifully written Glad you had a good run.

[fit-fanatic-2025]

Heck, that's a heat wave for us!

Actually when it gets in the twenties it does feel warmer!

First out door run of the New Year today - total 3.5 miles.
I was all set to go & 3 steps into it Mp3 player died...ugh.
Forced to muddle through own brainwaves and listen to own thoughts...I focused on how beautiful the day was, how nice the cool crisp air mixed with the warm sunshine felt on face, and how great it felt to be running again.
I didn't cry as I had expected I might, but reflected on the past few months and all that has happened. With every step I felt so many emotions. Sadness, Anger, Sorrow, slowly replaced with Hope, Strength, Determination and most of all...Appreciation for life, health, and for being strong in the midst of life's toughest blow so far.
It felt right to be running, I felt like me and it made me happy, and i realized it's okay to feel happy, it's okay to feel strong, to feel alive. dad was all around me, in thoughts, in the very strength I felt with every step I took, every mile I ran.
It was a good day to run.

Glad to see you are getting back to running because that truly would be what you dad would want! Sounds like a very nice run.

[EdgarHF]

With every step I felt so many emotions. Sadness, Anger, Sorrow, slowly replaced with Hope, Strength, Determination and most of all...Appreciation for life, health, and for being strong in the midst of life's toughest blow so far.
It felt right to be running, I felt like me and it made me happy, and i realized it's okay to feel happy, it's okay to feel strong, to feel alive. dad was all around me, in thoughts, in the very strength I felt with every step I took, every mile I ran.
It was a good day to run.

I am not ready to give up iPod quite yet, but I have been running without it lately. I am finding it to be meditative focusing on body, the way I breath, posture and stride. I am more aware of surroundings and the wildlife that abounds alongside the running path.

[fitoverforty]

That was beautifully written Glad you had a good run.

Glad to see you are getting back to running because that truly would be what you dad would want!

Thanks Bonnie and Rebekah - it did feel good to be back out there -

I am not ready to give up iPod quite yet, but I have been running without it lately. I am finding it to be meditative focusing on body, the way I breath, posture and stride. I am more aware of surroundings and the wildlife that abounds alongside the running path.

I don't like to hear breathing it makes me feel tired sooner, hearing how hard I'm working. I never used to have music, I always had a running partner (s), but going into this 1/2 marathon training session, I am running solo - and I am compiling a running song list that is entirely in sync with running cadence. When I can run in time to the music of a song - I don't feel tired and it really helps me grind out the miles - I'm hoping it will help me when I get up into the 6 + mile runs.

Todays workout:
1 min. JJacks 69 reps
1 min. Burpees 18 reps
1 min. Bicycle Crunchs 48 reps
1 min. front plank
1 min. Incline pushups 50 reps
1 min. squats 50 reps
1 min. DB incline flyes (5lbs) 30 reps
1 min. Step Ups (left leg) 37 reps
1 min. Step Ups (right leg) 31 reps
1 min. Rev. crunchs 26 reps
1 min. Front plank

felt good, strong. Disappointed in burpee reps, but geez those are hard for an old gal!!

[ldematto]

Wow ! Nice run - GREAT outlook - written beautifully. Thank you for sharing

[fitoverforty]

Thanks Lu.

Abs and back muscles are sore from yesterdays workout. good sore tho'

Todays workout:

4.5 mile treadmill workout
.25 warmup
4 miles - 39:25
.25 cooldown
leg stretches

felt awesome today!

[fitoverforty]

Time to get real.
Weigh in this morning - 168
I've gained 10lbs. since June of last year.
I was maintaining weight pretty well until around Sept, Oct of this past year, but it was gradually inching up. For one, I stopped weight lifting because of the arm injury (and found excuses not to go to the doctor to get it treated), 2nd - I stopped long runs and focused on short races (but didn't really apply myself to any serious training or diet control for that) 3rd - Stress....so much going on in personal life, I literally found myself falling back on "comfort foods" like pb&j sandwiches at night. I would get so tired mentally and physically that I would just revert back to those bad habits. Or i would go 6 to 8 hours without eating anything, then eat badly, just mindless uncontrolled snacking. 4th - Grief....at first I had no appetite, the smell of food made me nauseous, had no desire to eat, then Christmas came and it completely went the other way - I indulged in sweets and overeating. 5th....Lack of sleep, I haven't been able to sleep well at night since dad passed away. I'm feeling anxious, unsettled (maybe it's part of the grief process?) & worried about mom & how she's coping. I get maybe, 5 or 6 hours of sleep a night, and that is with several times of waking up.
So....... now I decided to stop kidding myself and face reality. The only bright side is that I weighed once right before Christmas and it was 171.5 - I've managed to lose 3.5 lbs. since Christmas.
I know what it takes. I know how to work hard. I know how to be disciplined. I've gotten off to a good start this year, I just need to stick with it - stay focused, & most of all - TAKE CARE OF ME!

[Fygle]

You can do it!

[fitoverforty]

Thank you Allison and Fygle. I'm counting on it.

Brent - i always appreciate your input and opinions, you have a way of just cutting out the bull hockey and getting down to the brass tacks of it.

Your bodies response to stress will override any exercise you do and what you eat.

sobering thought.
The stress I have been dealing with has definitely taken a toll. Stress is a killer. You don't even realize how it is affecting you, and in all the areas of your life that it shows up.

I am really into a new book right now, its called Change Your Brain, Change Your Body by Dr. Daniel Amen. I really recommend it. There's a website too, just google his name.

Thank you Brent, I will have to look into that. I like his name - Dr. Amen.

[fitoverforty]

Hey Lynn we're going to Texas on Jan 31 for 10 days!

Awesome!!! What part?
I remember one time you said if there was ever one place you would like to go it would be Texas. Funny, I've been to Canada once, but always wanted to go back - loved it there.

[Bonnie]

Changing ones diet is not the easiest thing to, especially if your trying to make a permanent lifestyle change.In your case Lynn you also have the added intricacies of your husband & son, not following the same eating habits, which will make everything harder.Changing your lifestyle is about choice, when you select food to put in your mouth, ask yourself " Is this going to help me in goal ? " or will it only make me feel like a failure ( Ive been there too ).Another trick is, like the twelve step approach " for today I will not eat ........ " Once the results of your efforts start happening, that in itself should be enough motivation to maybe remove other unnecessary things from the diet.Until your bounding with energy & have no desire to eat anything unhealthy Congrats on the loss btw

[fitoverforty]

Another trick is, like the twelve step approach " for today I will not eat ........

I really like that. I can see myself using that. Thank you Bonnie.

Congrats on the loss btw

Thanks!! Gotta stay after it so.....for today I will not eat any potato chips. (believe me, that is one of worst "comfort foods" so I will miss them...but not what they have done to hips. )

[Bonnie]

Chips used to be a big challenge for me also, could sit & eat an entire large bag myself.When I started to visit a person at the hospital for weight loss, I was accountable for weighing in each month, be damned if I was ever going to weigh MORE on a visit.I ate 3 chips at christmas & decided I don't NEED them, they will always be crunchy potato addictiveness & sure I could probably sit down & eat an entire bag, where would it get me though ? I ll tell you where, making heart work more than it needs to, probably causing a cascading effect on all processes of the body.Id feel like a failure, not to mention I'd gain FAT.

[fitoverforty]

Cool! You will love it. I haven't been out to that side of Texas in a few years - I live on the east side of Texas, 6 hours from San Antonio.

But, you gotta go see the Natural Caverns in New Braunfels while you are there. It is on the way to San Marcos from San Antonio.
http://www.naturalbridgecaverns.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I went there once a long time ago - still remember how awesome they were!!!